Michelle Leonard believes everyone can sing. A self-proclaimed ‘relentless optimist’, the founder of Moorambilla Voices and New South Wales finalist for the AgriFutures Australia Rural Woman’s Award is on a mission to electrify the arts in country Australia and bring music to all.

For the last 18 years, Michelle has left her home in Sydney for nearly six weeks, driving upwards of 4000 kilometres around New South Wales, across 21 Local Government areas to recruit for her various ensembles.

Of the thousands of kids that she coaxes music from, 350 are selected to learn to sing, play drums, to dance and read music – going on to perform throughout the year in venues like Dubbo’s Regional Theatre and Convention centre and this year, the Sydney Opera House.