Cyril Monk

Cyril Farnsworth Monk (9 March 1882 – 7 March 1970) was an Australian violinist and academic. His wife was the pianist and composer Varney Monk.

Life Monk was born in Surry Hills, Sydney in 1882, son of James Monk, a grocer, and wife Rosa née Bullen. He began playing the piano aged four, taught by his mother; from age nine he studied the violin with Samuel Chudleigh, secretary of the London College of Music. Later he studied the violin more intensively with Josef Kretschmann (who had been a pupil of Karol Lipiński and Ferdinand David), and music theory and composition with Alfred Hill.

In September 1904 he went to London and studied with Guido Papini at the College of Violinists. During his time in Europe, he heard many notable violinists of the day and had transcriptions and compositions published. In 1906 he passed the college's exams with distinction and received a gold medal.

Monk retired from the Conservatorium in 1955. He died in Sydney on 7 March 1970, survived by a son and daughter.