Katie Noonan unmasked: Sunshine Coast songstress opens up about her passion project

She’s taken centre stage as a sloth on Network 10’s hit talent show The Masked Singer but five time Aria winning artist Katie Noonan is quick to point out, her real passion lies elsewhere.

‘’The main aim is for young people to feel good, make friends and discover the magic of music,” she said.

Noonan is talking about the next generation of music superstars who are set to wow the Sunshine Coast when ‘Katie Noonan’s Eumundi School of Rock’ performs at this year’s Horizon Festival.

Eumundi School of Rock is a free music school based on Gubbi Gubbi country, with the aim of providing quality music education for young people.

The school, founded by the local songstress is in its fifth year and features 34 young rockers from the ages of eight through to seventeen.

They’ll share the stage with Katie, the Imperial Hotel Super Band, Jack Carty and the Mega Teacher Band this Saturday night at the Eumundi Showgrounds.

Due to current COVID- 19 restrictions, the school’s end of year show and major fundraiser has shifted from the Eumundi School of Arts to a drive-in format.

“If you need a good serotonin boost in your life, I can assure you these 34 young people rocking their hearts out will warm everyone’s hearts,” Katie said.

“The wonderful Jack Carty is also supporting our school, he played our first concert five years ago. Jack grew up in Bellingen so he knows special communities like this and the importance of progress like this for kids who live in regional areas.”

Katie moved to the Sunshine Coast nearly nine years ago and soon realised the area needed a music school that focused on cultural pride and Aussie rock.

‘’The main aim is for young people to feel good, make friends and discover the magic of music,” she said.

“They start a relationship with themselves and music which is so important for everybody, I believe everyone is an artist.

But not everyone gets in, the children audition, learn two songs and only the top twenty students are chosen.

Making the cut means a 10 weeks scholarship for each student plus a chance to perform at the end of year gig.

“We always play Australian female artists and First Nations artists.

“I wanted to make it free so the kids who were talented and driven could do it, regardless if their parents could afford it or not.

“It’s actually one of the most rewarding things in my life – seeing the kids just soar and their confidence soar – seeing their smiles is such a gift back to us.

The school costs about twenty five thousand dollars to run a year and it needs support.

“The Covid curve ball made this year particularly expensive,” she said.

“We have an amazing team of teachers, who have always been paid, but myself and a whole team of people volunteer hundreds of hours to make it happen.”