Jonathon Welch AM (b. 1958), tenor, is the founding music director of the Choir of Hope and Inspiration (formerly known as the Choir of Hard Knocks). Educated in music in Queensland, he was a Principal Tenor with Opera Australia from 1987 to 1993 and now occupies the same position with Tenor Australis. Between 1998 and 2006 he was Founding Director of the Geelong Pop Kids, the Australian Pop Choir, the Sydney Street Choir and the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Choir. Welch founded the Choir of Hard Knocks in 2006; the ABC documentary Choir of Hard Knocks won the Logie for Best Documentary in 2008, and its soundtrack won the ARIA for Best Original Soundtrack. Welch was named Australia's Local Hero on Australia Day 2008. His memoir, Choir Man, was released in 2009.
