Michelle Leonard, founder and artistic director of the well-known music and performance group, Moorambilla Voices was last week awarded the 2023 NSW/ACT AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award for her work bringing music and creativity to regional communities.

Ms Leonard said the $15000 award will go toward a "ground-breaking recording" in July.

The mission of Moorambilla Voices is to give country children and young adults a unique opportunity to sing, dance, drum, record, tour and create incredible performances with artists of the highest calibre.

Ms Leonard put it more simply in a recent radio interview.

"Basically we go out and deliver workshops to schools then select children for residential camps at beautiful Baradine. Then we orchestrate, work like crazy and perform at Dubbo," she said.

Ms Leonard's modest summary of the amazing work Moorambilla Voices do within the community belies the commitment Ms Leonard and her team have given over many years, emphasising a sense of place and connection to country for local children and youth.

A member of the MAXed OUT company - comprising of students from Year 7 - 12 shared what he loves about Moorambilla Voices.

"I think Moorambilla is about bringing artistic and cultural points of view to kids who have never had it," he said.

Minister for Women Jodie Harrison commended Ms Leonard on her win and all that she has achieved.

“Michelle’s passion for collaboration and celebrating cultural identity has sparked an innovative way to engage regional youth with music, dance and respect for the land and for others. She is driving change in how our children learn to tap into their creativity, resilience and sense of joy while gaining a deeper understanding of Australian and Aboriginal culture," Ms Harrison said.

Ms Leonard said it was great to see former performers coming back to the group and helping out.

"Coming out of Covid, the importance of connection and the joy of creating was vital for physical and mental health," she said. "Sense of place and connection to this glorious country is so important."

Ms Leonard said the AgriFutures Rural Women’s Award win goes beyond a personal achievement, and is testament to the unwavering dedication of all those committed to empowering rural and regional communities.

"I am profoundly grateful for the opportunities this award provides to further amplify the positive impact of Moorambilla Voices which has, and always will be, built on the pillars of access, equity, excellence, inclusion and respect. We all lift on a rising tide,” Ms Leonard said. "The $15000 will be used directly for a special project recording at the Sydney Opera House in July. We will be taking 48 adolescents in to work with a chamber orchestra singing songs from the last ten years in Indigenous native languages."

As one member of the MAXed OUT ensemble succinctly stated.

"Moorambilla takes you places you never thought you’d end up."