Background
Mona McBurney was born in Douglas, Isle of Manitoba, the youngest of six children of teacher and scholar Isaiah McBurney and art and music teacher Margaret McBurney.
Mona McBurney was born in Douglas, Isle of Manitoba, the youngest of six children of teacher and scholar Isaiah McBurney and art and music teacher Margaret McBurney.
Mona studied music in Edinburgh with Sir Alexander Mackenzie, who was later a principal of the Royal Academy of Music. McBurney attended the Ladies" College where her brother Samuel was principal and the University of Melbourne in 1881.
The family emigrated to Victoria, Australia, in 1881, and settled in Geelong. In 1892 she continued her studies at the University of Melbourne as a music student with G.W.L. Marshall-Hall, graduating in 1896. After ending her studies, McBurney worked as a composer and educator.
In 1907 she conducted a women"s orchestra in her Northern Ballad.
McBurney was active in literary and music societies and in providing venues for young musicians and composers.