In her first festival as Artistic Director, the singer-songwriter focuses on social change, empowerment and the human voice.

The Queensland Music Festival has announced its 2017 programme, a sprawling festival that reaches right across the state and will feature guest artists including Kate Ceberano, Montaigne, Isaiah, Lior, Steve Kilbey, David Hobson, Elena Kats-Chernin and Manu Delago. The festival is singer-songwriter Katie Noonan’s first as Artistic Director, whose programme focuses on social change, empowerment and the human voice.

“The overarching theme that I wanted to explore is very much about empowering Queenslanders to realise the power of their own voice, and that everyone who can talk, can sing,” Noonan tells Limelight. “Basically, find your voice. Whether that be your compositional voice or your actual singing voice. And also celebrating the incredibly diverse and world-class musicians that come from this part of the world.”

“We’ve come a long way in the last few decades, so a lot of the works are celebrating people that have gone on to international careers – really just instilling a sense of pride in who we are and what we do.”

Katie Noonan, Queensland Music FestivalQueensland Music Festival...