Vale Judy Bailey OAM

Published on 21 August 2025

It is with sadness that Council notes the passing of Dr Judy Bailey OAM, a pioneering jazz musician, composer, pianist and educator whose influence extended across Australia and into the very heart of our Lane Cove community.

Since her arrival in Sydney in the early 1960s, Judy Bailey has been at the forefront of Australian jazz. As one of the country’s most prominent female jazz musicians, she performed in many of Sydney’s most prestigious venues. Her versatility as both performer and arranger saw her collaborate with major orchestras across television and radio, and her career as a composer spanned film, television, and children’s programming.

Judy’s legacy as an educator is equally profound. She was a founding faculty member of the highly respected Tertiary Jazz Studies Program at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, where she lectured for more than four decades and mentored generations of students. Many of today’s leading jazz artists trace their careers back to Judy’s guidance. Her passion for nurturing talent also found expression through the Sydney Youth Jazz Ensemble and the big band Jazz Connection, which she directed for many years, providing invaluable opportunities for emerging musicians. In 2004 Judy was awarded an OAM for services to music and education and in recognition of her lifetime of achievement, Judy was honoured with the Australia Council Don Banks Music Award in 2022, cementing her place as one of the most important figures in Australian jazz history.

Alongside her national acclaim, Judy made a lasting and personal contribution to the cultural life of Lane Cove. While serving as resident pianist for ABC Radio’s Kindergarten program in the 1970s, she introduced innovative “music and movement” programs at Currambena and Lane Cove West Primary Schools, enriching the early learning of local children.

She was an early contributor and director of the Sydney Youth Jazz Ensemble. For more than twenty-five years, Judy brought her beloved Jazz Connection to Lane Cove, delighting audiences and giving young musicians the chance to perform for the community. Their first appearance at the Cameraygal Festival in 1994 marked the beginning of a long and cherished relationship. Year after year, residents looked forward to seeing Judy and her students on stage, with performances that combined professional excellence with the joy of young people discovering their voices through jazz.

In more recent years, Judy’s “At Your Request” concerts at the Lane Cove Festival became a highlight of our cultural calendar, selling out and providing audiences with unforgettable evenings of music. Her previous role as Patron of the Lane Cove Festival was a source of pride for our community, and a fitting recognition of her long-standing contribution. This year, as part of the Lane Cove Festival and the Sydney Fringe Festival program, we will host a very special At Your Request concert on Friday 12 September at the Civic Centre, featuring members of Judy Bailey’s band. This performance will be held in honour of Judy’s remarkable contribution to music and to our community, celebrating her legacy and the joy she brought to audiences in Lane Cove over so many years.

Dr Judy Bailey’s life’s work garnered international and national acclaim, but her generosity, warmth and passion also resonated deeply here in Lane Cove. She gave our schools, our festivals, and our community access to world-class music, and she encouraged and inspired countless young musicians along the way.

Council extends our deepest condolences to Judy’s family, friends, colleagues and students, and acknowledges with gratitude her immense contribution to Australian music and her enduring impact here in Lane Cove.

Vale Dr Judy Bailey OAM.