ʃiː stˈʌdid vaɪəlˈɪn ænd piˈænoʊ fɔːɹ twˈɛlv jˈɪɹz, ænd lˈeɪɾɚ mjˈuːzɪk θˈiəɹi, ænd ɡɹˈædjuːˌeɪɾᵻd fɹʌm nˈuːkæsəl kənsˌɜːvɐtˈoːɹiəm wˌɛɹ ʃiː wʌz ɐwˈɔːɹdᵻd hɜːɹ ˈeɪ.mˈʌs.
She studied violin and piano for 12 years, and later music theory, and graduated from Newcastle Conservatorium (where she was awarded her A.Mus.