danielle matthews
and the award winning
choir of hard knocks
Join Danielle and the award winning Choir of Hard Knocks as they celebrate twenty years in song. Featuring some of Danielle’s most heartfelt ballads like True Colors (Eva Cassidy) and Imagine (John Lennon) and the choir’s iconic Hallelujah by Leonard Cohen.
The Choir of Hard Knocks brings together people who have experienced social disadvantage, isolation, homelessness or mental health challenges. The initiative aims to empower participants through the joy of singing, fostering a sense of belonging and building self-confidence. They are the only group in Australian history to have won an Aria, Logie and Helpmann award in the same year
Conducted and accompanied by Australia’s piano legend Adam Przewlocki . Danielle and the Choir of Hard Knocks share heartfelt stories and songs of hope, joy, and inspiration. A celebration of the power of music to connect, uplift, and bring people together.
Danielle is an Australian/Vanuatuan singer, cabaret and recording artist.
Most recently performing in the 2024/2025 Australian tour of Jesus Christ Super star. Other Music Theatre credits include: Urinetown, Showboat, The Mikado, The Silent Anzac, Respect the Musical, and The Art Centres Melbourne’s Morning Melodies. Danielle has appeared in concert throughout Australia and performed with celebrated composer Stephen Sondheim
Danielle performs the National Anthem for many large scale sporting events. Most recently to a sold out crowd at the MCG for the Geelong vs Adelaide Afl prelim final.
She is the inaugural winner of the Rob Guest Endowment Awardand Co-Artistic Director of the Logie, ARIA and Helpmann Award-winning Choir of Hard Knocks.
She is best known in the theatre industry for her portrayal of Shirley Bassey.
During the pandemic lockdowns Danielle became a popular content creator and entertained millions around the world with her eccentric musical parodies.
TV credits: The Voice Season 10, Appearances on Studio 10, Sunrise, The Morning Show and GMA.
Danielle has released two albums and has sung in the in game sound tracks of major computer game franchises Assassins Creed and Skull and Bones.
One of Australia’s leading show choir directors, Adam founded the first of his choirs, the Divine Divas Show Choir in 2006. He has enjoyed an illustrious career as concert pianist, chamber musician and accompanist. He has performed as recitalist throughout Australia, USA, Europe, Taiwan, Korea, China, Japan and New Zealand.
Adam was Musical Director, pianist and vocalist with renowned cabaret group ‘Pot-Pourri’(Music Theatre Australia) for 10 years, undertaking more than15overseas concert tours with the 5-piece group. Adam’s dedication and service to the Hume community has been acknowledged through being named ‘Hume Citizen of the Year’ in 2009, as well as being a National Finalist in the 2009 Herald Sun ‘Pride of Australia’ medal for services to the community.
During Adam’s competitive career, he amassed over 200 prizes in Eisteddfods throughout Australia, including the City of Sydney Eisteddfod Piano Scholarship. He was also a finalist in the Stravinsky International Piano Competition for Young Artists in Illinois, USA in 1990 and 4 th prizewinner in the Ettlingen International Competition for Young Pianists in Germany, 1992.
Adam is also a recipient of the Queen Elizabeth Study Grant and is a Churchill Fellow. He also studied on full scholarship at London’s Royal Academy of Music from 1992-1996. He has performed in master classes conducted by Andras Schiff, John Lill, Peter Donahue, Alfred Brendel, Pascal Roge and Imogen Cooper. In 2019 Adam was appointed Co Artistic Director of the multi award winning CHOIR OF HARD KNOCKS, founded by Jonathon Welch.
The Choir of Hard Knocks is an inspiring musical ensemble based in Melbourne, renowned for its powerful performances and moving backstory. They are the only group in Australian history to have won an Aria, Logie and Helpmann award in the same year. Formed in 2007 under the direction of conductor and choirmaster Dr Jonathon Welch, the choir brought together people who had experienced homelessness, social disadvantage, or mental health challenges. The initiative aimed to empower participants through the joy of singing, fostering a sense of belonging and building self-confidence.
The choir gained national attention through the ABC television documentary series Choir of Hard Knocks, which followed its formation, rehearsals, and emotional journey leading up to a major performance at Melbourne Town Hall. The series highlighted the transformative power of music, showing how group singing could help members rediscover purpose, overcome isolation, and form strong community connections.
This was followed by performances at the Vodafone Arena with Judith Durham and Karen Knowles, The Sidney Myer Music Bowl for Carols by Candlelight and singing the National Anthem for the Dream Team AFL match at the MCG.
Over time, the choir evolved into a celebrated performing group, releasing albums, touring, and inspiring similar community choirs across Australia. Beyond music, its legacy lies in advocacy for social inclusion and raising awareness of homelessness and disadvantage. The Choir of Hard Knocks remains a testament to the healing capacity of creativity and the strength of the human spirit when given a chance to shine.
The choir is now in its 20th year and is run by Danielle Matthews and Adam Przewlocki who have been artistic directors of the choir since 2019. The choir continues to perform, spreading messages of hope and resilience, proving that everyone has a voice worth hearing.
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what people are saying.
Jon Fleetwood,
Docklands News, 3 September 2025
”…passionate, committed singing from some truly extraordinary people.”
Jacinta Parsons
ABC Radio Melbourne, 13 September 2025
”…finding your way to a choir, getting your voice…”
“The performance by The Choir of Hard Knocks was an emotional and powerful reminder of the resilience and strength of the human spirit in the face of adversity”