Violinist
About
Cedar Rose Newman is a compelling young Australian violinist whose playing has been described as "breathtakingly virtuosic," pairing formidable technique with a rare emotional depth. Raised in Wombarra, New South Wales — between the Illawarra Escarpment and the Pacific Ocean — Cedar draws on the wildness of that landscape in every performance, carrying it into concert halls across Australia, North America, and Europe on the instrument that first taught her to listen: her grandmother's violin.
Discovered busking at folk festivals at just thirteen, Cedar's talent carried her to New York, where she studied with the celebrated Russian soloist, composer, and conductor Albert Markov before joining the studio of the internationally renowned Canadian pedagogue Lucie Robert in 2018. She continues her training at the prestigious Manhattan School of Music on the competitive President's Merit Scholarship, and has refined her artistry in masterclasses with violin luminaries Kirill Troussov, Michaela Martin, and Shmuel Ashkenasi. Her chamber music has been coached by Nicholas Mann and the American String Quartet, and her piano studies with Gian-Franco Ricci continue to shape the collaborative repertoire at the centre of her work.
A prizewinning soloist and sought-after chamber musician, Cedar has appeared with the Southern Highlands Symphony and Steel City Strings orchestra, premiered a new work by composer Ann Carr-Boyd, and was invited as a late substitute to perform César Franck's Violin Sonata on the Festival Gardens stage of the Australian Festival of Chamber Music — a career-defining performance delivered, unfazed, over the sound of a passing road train. She has shared the stage with some of Australia's finest musicians, including pianists Simon Tedeschi and Calvin Abdiel.
Performances
Collaborations
Cedar has shared the stage with some of Australia's most celebrated musicians.
One of Australia's most celebrated pianists, Simon Tedeschi joined Cedar for a charity gala at Wollongong Town Hall with the WollCon BlueScope Youth Orchestra, raising $14,000 for Médecins Sans Frontières; again at Bendooley Estate in the Southern Highlands for an evening of music from the 1920s and 1930s; and at the Newcastle Music Festival, where the duo brought their program to one of Australia's leading regional festivals.
"A capacity for humility and generosity ... the emergence of a great young talent for whom her grandmother's violin is her Strad." Frances Goold — Illawarra Mercury
Indonesian-Australian pianist Calvin Abdiel — dubbed "the Piano Man" by The Australian and a Decca Australia recording artist — toured NSW and the ACT with Cedar in 2024, with performances at the Independent Theatre in Sydney and the Wollongong Art Gallery.
"Cedar Newman's solo performance showed both strength and gentleness, capturing the essence of the piece's passion, complexity, and virtuosity ... a jaunty chemistry, their understanding of each other's musical phrasing made for a captivating performance." classikON
Teaching
Alongside performing, Cedar is a dedicated teacher who believes the studio and the stage feed one another. She has taught violin and piano to young students from complete beginners through to intermediate players, in both Australia and New York.
Cedar teaches young violinists and pianists from their very first lessons through to intermediate repertoire and exam preparation, building technique alongside genuine musical curiosity.
Drawing on her own chamber training, Cedar coaches young ensembles in listening, phrasing, and the give-and-take that makes group playing come alive.
"Teaching is one of the best ways to improve your own playing." Cedar works through problems with her students rather than around them — helping them find their own musical voice, not copy hers.
Press
"A breathtakingly virtuosic performance ... her special skill was in the refined, almost silent moments of bowing."
Helen Muse — City News Canberra"An exciting young Australian violinist who draws in her audience, crafting exquisite musical narratives through refined technique and mature ensemble playing."
Artist Profile — Humanitix"Cedar Newman is an exceptional talent who was born to play the violin."
Prof. Lucie Robert — Manhattan School of MusicWatch
Saint-Saëns, Étude en forme de valse — Caprice arr. Ysaÿe
Maurice Ravel, Violin Sonata No. 2
Richard Strauss, Violin Sonata in E-flat major, Op. 18
J.S. Bach, Sonata for Solo Violin No. 2 in A minor, BWV 1003 — ii. Fugue
George Gershwin, "My Man's Gone Now" from Porgy and Bess, arr. Heifetz
Contact
For bookings, collaborations, or lesson inquiries, reach out directly.
cedarnewman24@gmail.com