Jonathon Welch - Awards and Accolades

Awards and Accolades

In 1999 Welch won the Australasian Choral Championships at the City of Sydney Eisteddfod. South Sydney Council, in 2002, presented him with a community services award. In 2007 he won the John Campbell "Mo" Fellowship Award. Welch was the 2008 winner of the Australian Local Hero Award – a part of the Australian of the Year awards. The award was in recognition of his work with The Choir of Hard Knocks. The National Australia Day Council stated that he had "touched the heart of the nation when he demonstrated the power of singing in building and renewing promising lives that had been saddened and defeated by circumstance". In June 2009 on the Queen's Birthday he was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia with the citation, "For service to the arts as an operatic performer and vocal coach, and to the community as the founder and musical director of the Choir of Hard Knocks".