QPAC

Conductor

Jonathon Welch AM is a multi-award-winning singer, conductor, teacher, songwriter and recording artist with a career spanning nearly five decades. In 2007, Jonathon’s work creating choirs for the homeless and disadvantaged in Australia was the subject of the internationally acclaimed ARIA, Logie and Helpmann award winning TV documentary Choir of Hard Knocks.

His achievements have been recognised with the Australian of the Year Local Hero 2008 and ANZAC of the Year 2009 awards, an Honorary Doctorate and an Order of Australia in the Queen’s Birthday Honours and an Honorary Fellow of the Australian Council of Educational Leaders.

Guest Artist

Nathan Foley rose to fame as a singer/presenter for 10 years on Channel 9’s multi-award-winning 1990’s children’s show HI-5, which aired in over 80 countries and was the only group to win five consecutive ARIAs in Australia for best live show. He has also featured on Channel 10’s I Will Survive (2012) and Channel 9’s The Voice (2019).

As a singer/songwriter, Nathan released solo album HURRICANE in 2022. His musical credits include Jerry Springer the Opera, Grease On The Beach and Mamma Mia!, which saw him win the award for male vocalist of the year at this year’s ACE AWARDS.

Guest Artist

Ellen Reed is one of Australia's most gifted singer/songwriters, best known to television audiences as superstar coach Jessie J's powerhouse grand finalist on The Voice Australia Season Five. Placing fourth overall, Ellen delivered season-defining performances including soulful renditions of Sia's “Chandelier”, Demi Lovato's “Stone Cold”, and Pink's “Perfect”.

Live performance credits include the Queensland Pops Orchestra and Oscar Theatre Company; at the Commonwealth Games, the Goodwill Games, the Bach Festival in Oregon, Brisbane EKKA and the Lord Mayor's Christmas Carols, and performances with Broadway composer Scott Alan.