Dame Joan Sutherland

Australian opera prima donna Dame Joan Sutherland (1926–2010) was one of Australia’s most prolific operatic stars.

Sutherland had stellar career at home and overseas from the 1950s until her retirement in 1990. She usually performed in partnership with her husband, Australian conductor Richard Bonynge.

Sutherland is considered one of the world’s great coloratura sopranos. This term is used to describe sopranos - women with a high singing voice - who specialise in music with agile runs, leaps up and down the scale and trills. Italian opera great, Luciano Pavarotti, described Sutherland’s as ‘the voice of the century’.

Despite her many world tours and international performances, she always considered Australia her home and is well known for her renditions of ‘Home, Sweet Home’ whenever she was on an Australian stage.

Elena Kats-Chernin

Elena Davidovna Kats-Chernin was born in Tashkent, Uzbekistan (then part of the Soviet Union).

Studying at the Yaroslavl Music School and the Gnessin State Musical College in Moscow from age 14, Elena migrated to Australia in 1975, continuing her studies at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music.

Often working under the name Elena Kats, she also participated in theatre and cabaret performance groups. Kats-Chernin went to Germany where she composed music for theatrical productions. It was while in Germany that she composed ‘Clocks for the Ensemble Modern’, a piece that would be performed around the world.

Since returning to Australia in 1994, Kats-Chernin has written many pieces for many performers and ensembles. Her portrait hangs in the National Portrait Gallery in Canberra.

Peter Allen

Peter Allen (born Peter Richard Woolnough; 1944–1992) was an Australian singer–songwriter, musician and entertainer, known for his energetic stage persona and lavish costumes. His compositions were popularised by many other performers; he won an Academy Award and penned the patriotic piece ‘I Still Call Australia Home’.

Kylie Minogue

Kylie Ann Minogue AO OBE, sometimes simple known as Kylie, is an Australian singer, songwriter and actress who holds both Australian and British citizenship. She is the highest-selling female Australian artist of all time, having sold more than 80 million records worldwide.

Jimmy Barnes and Cold Chisel

Cold Chisel are an Australian pub rock band, which formed in Adelaide in 1973 with mainstay members Ian Moss on guitar and vocals, Steve Prestwich on drums and Don Walker on piano and keyboards. They were soon joined by Jimmy Barnes as lead vocalist and, in 1975, Phil Small became their bass guitarist. The group disbanded in late 1983, but subsequently reformed several times. Musicologist Ian McFarlane wrote that they became ‘one of Australia's best-loved groups’ as well as "one of the best live bands’.

Archie Roach

Archibald William Roach AM is an Aboriginal Australian musician. He is a singer, songwriter, guitarist, and a campaigner for the rights of Indigenous Australians.

AC/DC

AC/DC are an Australian rock band, formed in 1973 by brothers Malcolm and Angus Young. Commonly classified as hard rock, they are considered pioneers of heavy metal, though they themselves have always classified their music as simply ‘rock and roll’. Members also include Phil Rudd, Cliff Williams and Brian Johnson.