Justin Kenealy

Australian-based saxophonist Justin Kenealy is currently completing his PhD in Music Performance at the University of Melbourne, studying under Barry Cockcroft, with the addition of extended study with Dr Timothy Roberts at Shenandoah Conservatory in Virginia, United States.  In addition to this, he has also worked with Timothy McAllister (USA), Claude Delangle (France), Vincent David (France), Arno Bornkamp (Netherlands), Niels Bijl (Netherlands), Andre Arends (Netherlands), Kenneth Tse (USA), Christian Wirth (France), Masataka Hirano (Japan), Stephen Page (USA), Joshua Hyde (Australia), Joseph Lallo (Australia), Ian Godfrey (Australia) and Vincent Le Quang (France).

Kenealy has earned fellowships in saxophone performance from Trinity College London (FTCL) and the Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music (FRSM). His other successes include numerous awards such as the 2011 E&D Rogowski Award for Scholastic promise, the 2014 Lady Turner Exhibitions Award for excellence, the 2014 Orloff Family Trust Scholarship and the 2015 Donovan Johnston Scholarship. He has also had several competition successes, earning first prizes in the 2011 Australian Saxophone Society Competition, the 2014 Melbourne Conservatorium of Music Concerto Competition, and the 2015 Australian-Chinese Youth Music Festival Competition.

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Kenealy has performed as soloist throughout Australia, France, the United States, and China. He performs regularly with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and Orchestra Victoria and has also received guest invitations to perform with the Australian International Opera Company, the Australian National Academy of Music (ANAM) Orchestra, the Shenandoah Conservatory Symphony Orchestra and EDGE Ensemble; the new music ensemble of the Shenandoah Conservatory. Kenealy’s playing has also been featured on ABC Classic FM, Foxtel Arts Channel and the Chandos recording label.

Kenealy made his concerto debut in 2015, performing the Henri Tomasi Concerto for Alto Saxophone and Orchestra under the baton of Fabian Russell with the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music Symphony Orchestra. He has since performed as soloist with The Melbourne Musicians Orchestra, Preston Symphony Orchestra and The University of Melbourne Wind Symphony.

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Kenealy is also a keen music educator. As well as Lecturing in Music Performance at the University of Melbourne, he maintains an active teaching studio at Carey Grammar School in Melbourne, Australia, where he provides lessons for approximately 60 woodwind students. He has also appeared as a guest mentor of 3mbs FM’s The Talent competition.

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Kenealy is a Selmer performing artist, and plays Selmer (Paris) saxophones exclusively.