John Farnham makes special guest appearance at Queensland Music Festival’s epic You’re The Voice concert to sing out against domestic violence alongside Katie Noonan, Kate Ceberano, Isaiah and over 2,500 choristers

 

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STRICTLY EMBARGOED UNTIL 5PM SATURDAY 29 JULY 2017

 

John Farnham makes special guest appearance at Queensland Music Festival’s epic You’re The Voice concert to sing out against domestic violence alongside

Katie Noonan, Kate Ceberano, Isaiah and over 2,500 choristers

 

Legendary Australian singer John Farnham joined forces with Queensland Music Festival (QMF) Artistic Director Katie Noonan, fellow Australian music icons Kate Ceberano and Eurovision finalist Isaiah and over 2,500 choristers to sing out against domestic violence at QMF’s epic You’re the Voice concert at Brisbane’s South Bank Piazza on Saturday 29 July.

 

In a surprise guest appearance, John Farnham joined QMF’s for one special song at the end of the concert – his iconic ‘You’re The Voice’ alongside Katie Noonan, Kate Ceberano and Isaiah and the mass choir.  

 

John Farnham and manager Glenn Wheatley said they were honoured to be part of QMF’s powerful You’re The Voice initiative.

 

“We are proud to have ‘You’re the Voice' associated with such fine talent and such a worthy cause.”

 

Queensland Premier and Minister for the Arts Annastacia Palaszczuk applauded QMF, and Artistic Director Katie Noonan, for its vision of affecting positive change through its month long program, including the You’re the Voice initiative.

 

“I thank all involved in this initiative, and this incredible finale, for making a difference, and for not sitting in silence.

 

“Special thanks to John Farnham for his rousing anthem and for getting behind this extraordinary cause.

 

“I continue to urge all Queenslanders to use your voice to speak out against domestic and family violence - it has no place in our community.

 

“The Queensland Government is proud to support the Queensland Music Festival and its You’re The Voice initiative which has shone a light on the issue of domestic and family violence and united thousands of people across the country.”

 

QMF Artistic Director Katie Noonan is passionate about using music to educate, inspire and change the world, as well as helping everyone to find their musical voice.

 

“I’m so proud of the positive response from the Australian community and music industry in rallying together to support Queensland Music Festival’s You’re The Voice initiative. It is an honour to have John Farnham raise his voice alongside thousands from across the country to sing for change. You’re The Voice is a testament to the power of music being able to make a difference,” Ms Noonan said.

 

The monumental, mass rendition of Farnham’s iconic ‘You’re the Voice’ was a powerful finale to the You’re The Voice concert, and Katie Noonan’s first festival as QMF Artistic Director, uniting thousands of Australian voices in a strong, musical stand against domestic violence.

 

More than 5,000 people, including 135 choirs from Queensland, Victoria, New South Wales, South Australia, Australian Capital Territory and Western Australia were involved in the initiative, either by singing at the Brisbane event, holding a local event, or joining the sea of voices via livestream.

 

QMF livestreamed the concert so that people from every corner of Australia who wanted their voice to be heard on this issue could sing in unison with those at the event in Brisbane at South Bank Piazza.

 

In addition to the You’re The Voice event, Katie Noonan and the Sony Foundation brought together Australian music stars Archie Roach, Troy Cassar-Daley and Montaigne to join Kate Ceberano and Isaiah to release a charity single on iTunes to raise funds to support young people affected by domestic violence.

 

Sony Foundation will donate all profits from the sale of the single to DVConnect, which provides 24/7 crisis response in Queensland for those living with domestic or family violence – click here to buy the single and here to view the video.

 

To help raise awareness, QMF is working closely with the Allison Baden-Clay Foundation and the Luke Batty Foundation. Donations can be made at allisonbadenclayfoundation.org.au and lukebattyfoundation.org.au.

 

For domestic and family violence support call DVConnect: Womensline 1800 811 811, Mensline

1800 600 636.

 

You're The Voice is presented by Queensland Music Festival, Brisbane City Council, Department of the Premier and Cabinet, and Aurizon, and supported by Cornerstone Living, Brisbane Airport Corporation, Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University, The Courier-Mail and The Sunday Mail, Seven Network, APN Outdoor, Rio Tinto, Brisbane Marketing and Australia Council for the Arts and Actrua.

 

For more information please visit qmf.org.au.

 

ENDS

 

Queensland Music Festival is an initiative of the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland, part of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet. Queensland Music Festival is a state-wide celebration of music with a vision to transform lives and communities through music.

 

You’re The Voice has received financial assistance from the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland’s Queensland Arts Showcase Program.

 

The You’re The Voice project has been assisted by the Australian Government through the Australia Council, its arts funding and advisory body.

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