The 2023 Idol winner will perform and speak at the upcoming RE VISION conference on May 4.
After his show-stopping audition earned him a golden ticket to the top 50, 24-year-old Royston Noell – a proudThanakwith and Wagadagam man – went on to take out the 2023 Australian Idol Crown. Throughout the season, he had Australians captivated as they tuned in to see him perform.
His passion for singing began in grade two, as he told the ABC, “Most kids wanted to play rugby or go fishing, but I just wanted to sing. It's all I ever wanted to do.”
The initial inspiration came from the High School Musical movie which Royston then channelled into singing at school and church. He never expected to win Australian Idol, especially after his singing attracted bullying at school.
“People would say homophobic stuff all the time and it stemmed from singing – I don’t know why,” he told the Courier Mail.
He had to learn to separate his passion from the misguided comments and today is confident in his music and in himself. “I’m a proud gay man. I am strong in my sexuality now. I love who I am and I’m so proud of how far I’ve come,” he said.
In 2022, Royston moved to Brisbane where he was studying a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Music) at Queensland University of Technology before Australian Idol turned his world upside down.
Making it through to the final round of the competition, he said: “This is a testament [to the fact] that no matter where you come from, as long as you work hard, you can follow your dreams, and they can come true.”
But perhaps the reason he took out the crown was his talent and incredible ability to connect with and engage Australian audiences.
Royston plans to give back to his community through music workshops and by sharing his love of music. “I have so many stories to tell, and things I want to give back to the people,” he told the National Indigenous Times.
On May 4, Royston will open ThinkTV’s RE VISION conference with a performance followed by a discussion about his Idol experience and the importance of on-screen representation of the broad spectrum of the Australian community.
“It's so important for young people and kids to see someone who looks like them on TV. Even if I change one little kid's heart and mind, that's my job done,” he said.
Registrations are closing soon for ThinkTV’s RE VISION. Click here to register now.
Have something to say on this? Share your views in the comments section below. Or if you have a news story or tip-off, drop us a line at adnews@yaffa.com.au
Sign up to the AdNews newsletter, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter for breaking stories and campaigns throughout the day.