Julia MacDonell

Julia MacDonell is a British-Australian pedagogue, educator and performer. She earned a Bachelor of Music with Honours in Performance from the Australian National University School of Music, and went on to complete a Postgraduate Diploma and Master of Music (Horn) at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.

Julia works extensively with Creative Futures, working with SEN learners, and very young children as well as mentoring adults (musicians and non-musicians) interested in music in the Early Years. She has also worked with the LSO Discovery programme, for Shake, Rattle & Roll. In addition to her work with children, she teaches musicianship and whole-class instrumental music, mentors less experienced teachers, and is the leader of the Music Explorers programme at Music Education Islington.

She has studied the Kodály concept both in the UK with David Vinden and Cyrilla Rowsell, and in Hungary at the Kodály Institute (Liszt Academy of Music) with Kata Körtvési, Borbála Szirányi and Anna Fűri, including vocal studies with János Klézli. Her training includes Music Learning Theory under Dr Eric Rasmussen (USA).

Julia began at Junior Guildhall as a maternity-cover teacher, and in 2025 became a permanent member of staff. Currently she is undertaking a Postgraduate Certificate in Performance Teaching at Guildhall School of Music & Drama, whilst continuing to work as a freelancer, performing on modern and period horns.