about
Hello. I'm a songwriter who makes art and theatre.
My work investigates loss and meaning-making through music, community performances and projects, experimental collaborations and site-specific installations. I facilitate group workshops, and craft live performance spaces that invite participation, audience connection and emotional intimacy.
Following a career in traditional Chinese medicine, group facilitation, and yoga and meditation teaching, I completed a Bachelor of Creative Arts (Honours) at Charles Darwin University. My research interests include art and music as the temple, melancholy, and art-making as a practice of belonging.
Residencies and performances include Caboolture Hub Studio residency, Old Lock Up residency, Project 24 Residency, Anywhere Festival, Moreton Bay Food & Wine Festival, Maleny Lane, Moreton Bay Park Jam and Woodford Folk Festival.
I also host the Sunshine Coast Songwriters Roundtable, a supportive space for songwriters to meet and hone the art of storytelling with words and music. I'm blessed to live and work on Jinibara Country.
KEY ACHIEVEMENTS
2024 - Before I Die, Flora + Fauna of the River, Reflection Trees. Community art project concept development, project delivery, team management. Rockhampton River Festival. Creative development of The Guest House, Director. Caboolture.
2024 - Songs for Absent Beauty. Director, producer, performer. Anywhere Festival, Moreton Bay.
2024 - Around the Kitchen Table: conversations about death & dying. Concept development, delivery & facilitation. Eudlo, Sunshine Coast..
2023 - Sometime Soon. Director, producer. Anywhere Festival, Brisbane, QLD. A Private Public Performance. Collaboration with Jane Anderson & A Maree. Project 24 Residency. Sunshine Coast, QLD. Aging, Art, & Creativity Symposium. Presenter, Sunshine Coast University.
2022 - Somewhere in the Light: stories of love & loss. Producer, songwriter, director, performer. Sunshine Coast, QLD & Anywhere Festival, Brisbane, QLD.
2022 - Songify Your Day. Collaboration with UQ School of Music & Moreton Bay Regional Council, Brisbane, QLD.
2021 - Bow Down to Your Queen: a tribute to the King of Horror. Producer, director, performer. Anywhere Festival, Brisbane, QLD.
2021 - Something Your Hand Touched: art, music & remembrance. Producer, director, performer. Brisbane, QLD.
2021 - Waiting Game. Collaborative exhibition with Mieke van den Berg & participatory workshop. Old Lock Up, Sunshine Coast, QLD
2021 - Making Do. Group exhibition. Redcliffe Art Gallery, QLD.
2019 - Julia. Short film & collaboration with Dr. Michael Whiticker. Sunshine Coast, QLD.
2019, 2020 & 2021 - CIFEA High Achievement commendation from Dean Prof. Ruth Wallace, College of Indigenous Futures, Education, and the Arts, Charles Darwin University, NT.
2024 - Songs for Absent Beauty. Director, producer, performer. Anywhere Festival, Moreton Bay.
2024 - Around the Kitchen Table: conversations about death & dying. Concept development, delivery & facilitation. Eudlo, Sunshine Coast..
2023 - Sometime Soon. Director, producer. Anywhere Festival, Brisbane, QLD. A Private Public Performance. Collaboration with Jane Anderson & A Maree. Project 24 Residency. Sunshine Coast, QLD. Aging, Art, & Creativity Symposium. Presenter, Sunshine Coast University.
2022 - Somewhere in the Light: stories of love & loss. Producer, songwriter, director, performer. Sunshine Coast, QLD & Anywhere Festival, Brisbane, QLD.
2022 - Songify Your Day. Collaboration with UQ School of Music & Moreton Bay Regional Council, Brisbane, QLD.
2021 - Bow Down to Your Queen: a tribute to the King of Horror. Producer, director, performer. Anywhere Festival, Brisbane, QLD.
2021 - Something Your Hand Touched: art, music & remembrance. Producer, director, performer. Brisbane, QLD.
2021 - Waiting Game. Collaborative exhibition with Mieke van den Berg & participatory workshop. Old Lock Up, Sunshine Coast, QLD
2021 - Making Do. Group exhibition. Redcliffe Art Gallery, QLD.
2019 - Julia. Short film & collaboration with Dr. Michael Whiticker. Sunshine Coast, QLD.
2019, 2020 & 2021 - CIFEA High Achievement commendation from Dean Prof. Ruth Wallace, College of Indigenous Futures, Education, and the Arts, Charles Darwin University, NT.
AWARDS + GRANTS
2024 - National Regional Arts Fellowship, Regional Arts Australia. RADF mentoring, Sunshine Coast Council. RADF creative development, Moreton Bay Regional Council. Regional Arts Fund Quick Response, Flying Arts, Academic Excellence Award, College of Arts, Law and Education and the University of Tasmania. University of Tasmania.
2023 - RADF creative development, Moreton Bay Regional Council. RADF stories & collections, Moreton Bay Regional Council.
2022 - Gifted program, Sunshine Coast Arts Foundation. RADF project funding, Sunshine Coast Council.
2021 - Winner, People’s Choice Award, Anywhere Festival. Brisbane, QLD. RADF creative development, Moreton Bay Council.
2019 - Winner, Songwriter’s Award, Eudlo Music Nights, Sunshine Coast, QLD.
2023 - RADF creative development, Moreton Bay Regional Council. RADF stories & collections, Moreton Bay Regional Council.
2022 - Gifted program, Sunshine Coast Arts Foundation. RADF project funding, Sunshine Coast Council.
2021 - Winner, People’s Choice Award, Anywhere Festival. Brisbane, QLD. RADF creative development, Moreton Bay Council.
2019 - Winner, Songwriter’s Award, Eudlo Music Nights, Sunshine Coast, QLD.
EDUCATION + TRAINING
2024 - Diploma of Creative Arts and Health, University of Tasmania. TAS. Shifting the Model of Conferences, Regional Arts Australia. Internship programme, Zen Zen Zo Physical Theatre, Brisbane.
2023 - Certificate IV Youth Work, TAFE, QLD.
2020 - Bachelor of Creative Arts (Honours), Charles Darwin University, Darwin, NT
2019 - Bachelor of Creative Arts, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, NT.
2004 - 2016 - Dynamic Groups Facilitation Training with Robin Clayfield; The Work of Byron Katie Facilitation Training with Rosie Stave; Meditation & Yoga Teacher Training, numerous courses; Cert IV in Workplace Training & Assessment, TAFE; Bachelor of Health Science (Acupuncture), ACNM, Brisbane, QLD.
2023 - Certificate IV Youth Work, TAFE, QLD.
2020 - Bachelor of Creative Arts (Honours), Charles Darwin University, Darwin, NT
2019 - Bachelor of Creative Arts, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, NT.
2004 - 2016 - Dynamic Groups Facilitation Training with Robin Clayfield; The Work of Byron Katie Facilitation Training with Rosie Stave; Meditation & Yoga Teacher Training, numerous courses; Cert IV in Workplace Training & Assessment, TAFE; Bachelor of Health Science (Acupuncture), ACNM, Brisbane, QLD.
PUBLICATIONS
2024 - Loss, meaning, mortality & the creative arts: the story of Sometime Soon, Mira Chorik & Kelli Dendle. New Communities Journal. Jam Circles: a recipe for developing & preserving communities one jar at a time. Kelli Dendle & Mira Chorik. New Communities Journal.