Jillian was brought up in New Zealand but studied the violin in Australia. After graduating she played professionally in the Queensland Theatre Orchestra playing both Opera and Ballet.
While attending an Australian String Teachers’ conference she met the first American teacher to study with Suzuki in Japan, John Kendall. Mr Kendall, a graduate of the Juillard School in New York, offered her a scholarship to do a Masters in Performance and Teaching (Suzuki) in the USA. The programme included children who played Twinkle to Tchaikovsky and included teaching at summer workshops around America, national and international conferences. During this time Jillian was also fortunate to be coached in Chamber Music by the Beaux Art Trio which built on the coaching she had received from the Coull Quartet in Australia. After graduation Jillian taught at the Suzuki Program at Stony Brook University for a year before moving to London.
Jillian established, and is the Director of, The Bayswater Suzuki Group which was based at the London Suzuki Group building in Bayswater. Before long, the Group outgrew the building and they started using College Park School, Bayswater which enabled Jillian to start an orchestra programme. The Bayswater Suzuki Group is now based in Holland Park at St Clements and St James Primary School. The Programme has grown such that it now includes three Orchestras, Chamber Music for advanced players, Choirs, Violin & Cello groups and a biannual Tour Group to different European countries.
Jillian directs three summer courses: A Chamber Music Course, Sfzorando (Suzuki Course PT to Book 7) and the Extravaganza (Opera or Musical) in the Summer Holidays. Over the last 20 years Jillian has been invited to teach at Workshops in many European countries including, Ireland, Holland, France and Spain.
In 2016 Jillian was delighted to accept the Directorship of Bryanston International Summer School which she has taught at since it began.