Griffith alumnus Kate Miller-Heidke has been chosen to represent Australia in theEurovision Song Contest.
Miller-Heidke’s stunning performance of Zero Gravitywon the public vote at the live TV finals forEurovision – Australia Decides, held on the Gold Coast over the weekend.
Kate is the second Queensland Conservatorium alumnus to represent Australia at Eurovision, afterDami Im was crowned runner-up at the 2016 Eurovision finals. Young Conservatorium alumnus Nicole Blair penned the UK’s entry in last year’s Eurovision competition.
Miller-Heidke took to social media to share her joy at winning a spot in the international singing competition, which attracts a global audience of more than 200 million viewers.
“I’m absolutely overwhelmed – I can’t believe it,” she shared on Twitter.
“Thank you so much to everyone who voted.
“It was a fierce competition and I’m beyond thrilled that you chose me to represent Australia at Eurovision 2019.”
The winning song, co-written by fellow Griffith graduate Keir Nuttall, showcased Miller-Heidke’s soaring vocals – a legacy of her training at the Queensland Conservatorium.
Miller-Heidke graduated from Griffith’s Queensland Conservatorium in 2002 with a Bachelor of Music, majoring in classical voice.
Queensland Conservatorium Director Professor Scott Harrison said the Con had produced many remarkable vocalists who had transformed the Australian music scene — from Dami Im to Katie Noonan and Megan Washington.
“Kate Miller-Heidke is one of many talented alumni making their mark on the world stage,” he said.
“We remain the dream destination for aspiring young musicians from around the world — this has been confirmed by our position among the top 50 performing arts programs in the world, and our recent ranking as the country’s leading creative arts school.
“Kate is a classically-trained singer but her crossover appeal is immense, and it is no surprise to me or her former teachers that she impressed the judging panel this weekend.
“We wish Kate the very best in the final in Tel Aviv later this year and we know she will do Australia proud at Eurovision.”
Miller-Heidke exploded onto the Australian music scene in 2008 with her debut album Curiouser, which included chart-topping hits ‘The Last Day on Earth’ and ‘Caught in the Crowd’.
Despite becoming a pop icon, Miller-Heidke has continued to make the most of her classical training, composing an award-winning children’s opera, The Rabbits, and performing at the Metropolitan Opera in New York.
The Eurovision Song Contest 2019 will take place in Tel Aviv from May 14 – 18.