Jenny Banks, a classical violinist from New Zealand, has died at the age of 42 after a battle with behavioural variant frontotemporal dementia (bv-FTD). She passed away peacefully on June 30, 2026, surrounded by family at Ranui care home, though the news was only announced this week. The cause of death was pneumonia.
Career and Diagnosis
Banks was best known for her role in the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra, which she joined in 2011 and held until 2020, when she was diagnosed with bv-FTD. This brain disease damages the frontal and temporal lobes, affecting behaviour more than memory. Symptoms can include motor dysfunction, loss of social inhibitions, and compulsive behaviours. It is progressive with no treatment, and life expectancy ranges from two to 10 years.
At the time of her death, Banks had been living at Ranui care home after spending a year at Dunedin Hospital recovering from a broken leg.
Tributes and Family
Tributes have flooded in for the musician. One friend recalled: “I remember her from high school as someone who loved classics, drama classes, and of course her violin skills. My dad also remembers her from when she was a youth volunteer at St John. Condolences to the Banks family, she will be watching over you all. May every chord played on a violin remind us of the beautiful person she was.”
Another said: “Condolences to the family. I remember feeling proud to see Otago Alum Jenny leading her section of the Gewandhaus Orchestra in Germany 2015. Distinctly recall an audience member being moved to tears.” A third added: “Such a great loss. I was lucky to sing with Jenny in ‘Dunstanza’ back in the day. I will always remember her great talent. A life lived fabulously, but much too short.”
Banks leaves behind an 11-year-old daughter, Ella, along with her parents and siblings.
