Born in Taiwan, Julia began piano lessons at the age of five. In 1990, she moved to Australia where she continued her studies with Ronald Farren-Price AM. In the subsequent years, she competed successfully in competitions, made appearances as concerto soloist and obtained her Licentiate Diploma in Music (L.Mus.A.) while still at school.
Winner of the open-age Visyboard Recital Scholarship (1996), Julia was the Dux of Wesley College, Melbourne (1996), the recipient of the Victorian Premier’s Award (1996), and the Australian Students Prize (1997). From 1998 to 2000, Julia was one of few pianists selected nationwide to participate in the Australian National Academy of Music Piano Program, performing at venues such as the Melbourne Concert Hall (now Hamer Hall).
From 1999 to 2001, Julia studied under the guidance of Elizabeth Powell at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, the University of Sydney, where she also studied accompaniment with David Miller AM, and harpsichord/fortepiano with Paul Dyer (Director, Australian Brandenburg Orchestra). During this time, Julia was invited to become a lifetime member of the Golden Key National Honour Society for excellence in academic achievements, and was also awarded the Winnifred Nerious Scholarship as the most outstanding final-year pianist at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music - where she completed her Bachelor of Music with Honours.
Julia was subsequently awarded her Master of Music degree in musicology from The University of Melbourne (under the supervision of Kerry Murphy) and her Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree from Royal Holloway, the University of London (under the supervision of Katharine Ellis). For her doctoral degree, Julia was awarded the Overseas Research Students Award (Universities UK), the College Research Studentship (Royal Holloway), the University of London Institute in Paris Studentship, and the Welsford Smithers Travelling Scholarship (The University of Melbourne). Her PhD thesis examined the evolution of the Prix de Rome competition during the period 1831-1854, in the context of French Romanticism and opera.
Julia is one of the world's leading authorities on French music.
Her publications include several articles, CD sleeve notes for the
Flemish Radio Choir and Brussels Philharmonic, and the monumental volume
Le Concours du prix
de Rome de musique (1803-1968) (Symétrie, 2011)
–
for which she is co-editor. This latest book has been
reviewed in France as "the literary event of 2011". Julia is
widely sought after as a piano teacher, competition adjudicator, musicology lecturer,
and dissertation supervisor/examiner. She has over fifteen years
of experience in private piano teaching and is frequently invited to
give guest lectures in Australia and abroad. Highlights include a
lecture-recital as part of the Musée d’Orsay
Impressionists Exhibition (2004) at the National Gallery of Victoria.
Since 2002, Julia has also taught a range of subjects at The University
of Melbourne, including the music histories of the Baroque, Classical,
Romantic, and Twentieth-Century periods as well as harmony & counterpoint.
Julia also performs regularly with her chamber ensemble
Trio Ladurée