Local
11/17/08
New honour for Jonathon
Australian of the Year "Local Hero" Jonathon Welch Receives New Honour from Griffith Uni
Jonathon Welch now has another accolade to add to his growing list of credentials, being awarded Doctor of the University, by Griffith University Chancellor, Leneen Forde AC.
It’s been quite a year for Jonathon that began with being named Australian of the Year – ‘Local Hero’ for his work as the founder and musical director of The Choir of Hard Knocks.
As a former graduate of Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University is now honouring Jonathon as an honorary Doctor of the University.
“Griffith honouring me with a doctorate is an amazing honour,” said Jonathon, “Especially as many of my teachers such as Donald Smith, and people I worked with like Dame Joan Sutherland and Richard Bonynge are Doctors of the University.
“To be put in that category is just an amazing honour so it’s a pleasure to come back to support the university that continues to provide first class teaching and graduates.”
Jonathon’s overriding passion in working at a community level, where he sees how music brings people together.
Now he speaks of the work that is ahead for all Australians, work that engages communities, encouraging them to come together, to reconnect, to get to know our neighbours again.
Expect to hear much more about this in the coming year as Jonathon prepares for an even greater challenge, a challenge he will tackle as his legacy for the country.
Speaking at the gala award function to confer the Honorary Doctorate, Professor Peter Roennfeldt, Director, Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University said, “As a Conservatorium graduate, Jonathon embodies so much about what we value in music and the way in which it enhances people's lives and society generally.
“The aspects of his career we celebrate are his lifelong commitment to the artform, to self-development, and his sense of social responsibility in bringing music to as wide an audience as possible, particularly to those who are disadvantaged.”
In closing Professor Roennfeldt praised Jonathon’s energy and commitment to professional standards that traverse barriers and make all forms of music popular to all kinds of people.
It’s been quite a year for Jonathon that began with being named Australian of the Year – ‘Local Hero’ for his work as the founder and musical director of The Choir of Hard Knocks.
As a former graduate of Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University is now honouring Jonathon as an honorary Doctor of the University.
“Griffith honouring me with a doctorate is an amazing honour,” said Jonathon, “Especially as many of my teachers such as Donald Smith, and people I worked with like Dame Joan Sutherland and Richard Bonynge are Doctors of the University.
“To be put in that category is just an amazing honour so it’s a pleasure to come back to support the university that continues to provide first class teaching and graduates.”
Jonathon’s overriding passion in working at a community level, where he sees how music brings people together.
Now he speaks of the work that is ahead for all Australians, work that engages communities, encouraging them to come together, to reconnect, to get to know our neighbours again.
Expect to hear much more about this in the coming year as Jonathon prepares for an even greater challenge, a challenge he will tackle as his legacy for the country.
Speaking at the gala award function to confer the Honorary Doctorate, Professor Peter Roennfeldt, Director, Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University said, “As a Conservatorium graduate, Jonathon embodies so much about what we value in music and the way in which it enhances people's lives and society generally.
“The aspects of his career we celebrate are his lifelong commitment to the artform, to self-development, and his sense of social responsibility in bringing music to as wide an audience as possible, particularly to those who are disadvantaged.”
In closing Professor Roennfeldt praised Jonathon’s energy and commitment to professional standards that traverse barriers and make all forms of music popular to all kinds of people.
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