Kate studied Early Music (Recorder) and Composition at the Victorian College of the Arts with Mary Finsterer, Mark Pollard and Brenton Broadstock, graduating in 1996. Kate received a NUFFIC scholarship from the Dutch Government in 1998 and moved to The Netherlands to study composition with Martijn Padding, Louis Andrieson and Gilius van Bergeijk at the Koninklijk Conservatory, and Carnatic (Sth Indian) music studies with Rafael Rainer at the Sweelink Conservatory, Amsterdam. In 2000 Kate was awarded equal first prize in the International Young Composers meeting and a special mention in the Henriette Bosmans prize.

She returned to Melbourne, Australia, in 2003, establishing her events company 'Dead Horse Productions'. She recently (August 2005) received a scholarship from the Accademia Musicale Chigiana, Siena, Italty and studied under Maestro Corghi and Ensemble. In 2006 Kate is the recipient of the Hephzibah Tintner Fellowship, working with the Australian Ballet, Sydney Dance Compnay, Sydney Symphony Orchestra and the Australian Opera.

Visit Kate Neal's web page here.