JONATHAN Welch, 67, can finally call himself a Queenslander.
He has lived in Queensland to study at the Queensland Conservatorium and for the past four years at Thornlands, but the tide turned for Mr Welch when he was named in the Top 40 inspirational Queensland men in December 2025.
And since then, he has continued to inspire with a heady musical program and winner of the 2026 Australia Day Redland Coast cultural award.
“That was a wonderful start and great acknowledgement for live inclusive arts programs in the Redlands,” Mr Welch said.
Rehearsals are underway for Mr Welch’s fourth consecutive Redland-based project choir, this time with 190 singers ready to rock the Redlands at RPAC with two concerts on May 9.
The choir will then join with singers from Logan and present a concert at the Logan Entertainment Centre on June 27.
About 100 Redlanders were recently among 4370 singers to set a world record for the most people to sing John Farnham’s You’re the Voice at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl in Melbourne and raise $45,000 for head and neck cancer, Australia.
The event was directed by Chong Lim and included vocalists Jack Jones and Em Rusciano.
“This is exciting and a great thing to be a part of. It’s history in the making,” Mr Welch said.
This year is also a year of celebration as Mr Welch’s choirs celebrate various anniversaries, namely Choir of Hard Knocks celebrating 20 years and Sydney Street choir marking 25 years.
Mr Welch has announced a Brisbane Street choir to start in April.
“It’s a big year of celebration and inclusion through music and choir singing,” he said.
“I saw the inspirational men tag on Facebook and almost choked on my breakfast.
“It really is something, but most of all for me, it means that I am a proud Queenslander,” he said.
“For years, I’ve dreamt of living here and now it’s finally official. I have been recognised as an inspirational Queenslander, but best of all I have been recognised as a Queenslander. I like to think I’m a perspirational Queenslander.”
With Mr Welch receiving hormonal treatment for prostate cancer, the perspiration rings true.
“I say I’m going through manopause,” he said.
In his four years, Mr Welch has made quite an imprint on the musical scene in Queensland and particularly the Redlands.
2025 was also a busy year for him, having rehearsed and performed the Greatest Show choir at RPAC in May and combined this with the Fraser Coast, Brisbane and Toowoomba choirs performing the same show to a capacity crowd at QPAC in November.
He has held a Glitz and Glamour ball to raise funds for his Play It Forward charity program and to celebrate the 60th birthday of husband Matthew Jones.
“Music is my way of making sense of the world. It’s my happy place,” he said.
“It’s also my way to contribute back to the world. I am honoured to do that.
Mr Welch said his greatest reward was in seeing people light up and “enjoy the joy of music”.
“It makes you feel valued and valuable,” he said.
Through music, I have made friendships and had amazing experiences, including travelling the world.
“I like to create musical village wherever I go.”
