This was published 6 years ago
Katie Noonan to direct music in Commonwealth Games ceremonies
By Murray Wenzel
Queensland musician Katie Noonan has been appointed director of music for the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games' opening and closing ceremonies.
Noonan, a five-time ARIA Award-winner and former lead singer for Brisbane band George, was Wednesday among a host of home-grown talent appointed to produce and perform in the ceremonies.
Brisbane favourite Katie Noonan will be the music director for the Commonwealth Games.
"I'm a fiercely proud Queensland musician; I think we make some of the best music in the world and indeed some of the best art in the world," she said.
"There's some truly world class dance and music being made here, so it's a good time to focus on our (cultural) identity and realise that we're really good at what we do."
Noonan was named alongside Brisbane choreographer and performer Nathan Wright and Gold Coast tap dancer Drew Anthony who will help deliver the opening and closing ceremonies respectively.
Stephen Page's Bangarra Dance Theatre will also feature in a show put together by director David Zolkwer, who has worked on three Commonwealth Games including Melbourne's, the Athens 2004 Olympics, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2011 royal wedding.
About 4000 people will take part in the two shows next April, with key casting and thematic details to remain a secret.
There was initial backlash after Australian companies were overlooked for the production contract in favour of US-based Jack Morton Worldwide.
Gold Coast Commonwealth Games Corporation chief executive Mark Peters said Wednesday's appointments justified the decision.
"There are great Australian companies, but the strength of Morton is the engagement at the community level and they've just done so much work and it's real," Peters said.
Manchester-born Zolkwer has spent the last 18 months living on the Gold Coast with his family and said rehearsals will begin early next year.
"They're not my ceremonies, they belong to the people of the Gold Coast and it's got to be authentic and the authenticity comes from listening to people," the artistic and project director said.
AAP