Judy Hall plays Melbourne Town Hall at age of 96

The lifelong music lover performed Chopin’s Larghetto from Piano Concerto in F minor alongside the Gippsland Symphony Orchestra on November 18 during a special performance.

The recital also featured performances by pianists Tim Young and Alex Waite, along with a violin performance by Judy’s grandson Simon Young.

“They put in a beautiful piano for me and it was in the Swanson Room –  a lovely venue that held 250 people,” she said.

The event even attracted mainstream media coverage, with the recital reported on by the Nine network.

Judy said the performance was arranged by Melbourne Council after a friend caught wind of her “tongue in cheek” desire and spread the word on Facebook.

“I’ve wanted to play Melbourne Town Hall since I was 12. All the concerts were played there in those days,” she said.

Judy developed a love of piano when she started playing the family piano at home at the age of 12. Her father used to play in a brass band and her mother also came from a musical family.

She learned technique from Professor Lidia Baldecchi Arcuri, who taught her to play in various ways and to properly interpret music.

The long-time piano teacher still has six students and is also a member of a chamber music trio which still performs regularly.

She has developed arthritis in her fingers but still makes sure to play piano every day, saying it helps with the condition.

Judy has now played with the Gippsland Symphony Orchestra three times and said the experience of playing at Town Hall was also a first for the ensemble – which had not performed outside the valley area.

The said the recital may have been her “swansong” but she still intends to keep playing and performing with her trio, which performs in local nursing homes.

“If I don’t play with an orchestra again, I’m quite satisfied, and if I do get another go, it will be a bonus,” she said.

“I’ll play until my hands drop off.”