Beloved Playschool star Judy Bailey has died in Sydney, aged 89.

Bailey, an Auckland-born jazz musician, passed away in Willoughby on Friday.

Bailey began formal music training at the age of 10. By 16, she had received a diploma from Trinity College London.

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The musician moved to Sydney in 1960, where she immersed herself into the city’s vibrant music scene.

She performed at the well-known El Rocco club.

The vibrant performer soon found her way into TV, including stints on all three major networks. Tommy Tycho’s Orchestra on Channel Seven, John Bamford’s Orchestra on Channel Nine and Jack Grimsley’s Orchestra on Channel 10.

By 1973, she was part of the founding faculty of the Sydney Conservatorium of Music’s jazz studies program, a role she was deeply passionate about throughout her life.

Bailey started working on the ABC’s Radio Kindergarten program for young people. That led to her role on Play School, where she became part of the cherished program.

She later directed the Sydney Youth Jazz Ensemble, toured southeast Asia with a quartet for Musica Viva, and served as musical director for Sydney Opera House’s Bennelong jazz series.

Bailey got a number of honours including the Order of Australia medal in 2004.

She also received the APRA Jazz Composition Award and an induction into the Australian Jazz Bell Hall of Fame in 2014.

Tributes started pouring in for Bailey, including from musician Virna Sanzone.

She wrote: “I’m one of probably thousands of musicians lucky enough to have been mentored, nurtured and championed by Judy. Her generosity, energy and positivity seemed to be boundless.

“I met Judy in 1996 when I was as green as could be. Two years later, I was singing as part of her trio at the Opera House. She lovingly threw me in the deep end so many times in my early days as a singer, and I can’t thank her enough for that.

“Judy taught us all so much. For one thing, I can safely say I owe a lot of my inner musical world to Judy. She taught people to listen, to really hear, deeply. What a precious gift for any musician.”

She is survived by her children, Chris and Lisette.