Leah Cotterell is the 2023 Letty Katts Fellow at the State Library of Queensland. Her 2020 Doctor of Musical Arts research focused on how singing performance connects us, exploring her 40 years of diverse professional experience. Her versatile soulful sound has been applied to jazz, adult contemporary, country, gospel and folk musical projects, that also saw her develop as a lyricist. Leah has also enjoyed a long involvement in music in education and currently facilitates singing workshops for people living with disability. For her Masters research Leah created a musical memoir ‘The Pleasure of Sad Songs’ reflecting on her experiences as a mental health family carer. This was the subject of an interview on the ABC radio series ‘Conversations’. Leah has recently completed a long-form family memoir. See more: www.leahcotterell.com.au

Narelle McCoy is a writer, musician, academic, archivist and researcher. Her PhD study centres on the power of the female voice in the Irish death ritual. She is a sessional lecturer in popular music and music theatre history at the Queensland Conservatorium, Griffith University. She has given guest lectures on death and ritual mourning at events such as Egyptian Mummies: exploring ancient lives at the Museum of Applied Arts and Science: The Powerhouse. Sydney; as well as presenting at international conferences on the topic of the Irish wake ritual, death and Irish mythology. Over the years Narelle has worked as an actor at La Boite Theatre, a vocal soloist specialising in Irish music, and has performed in various early music ensembles and a cappella groups. She was the 2021 Letty Katts Fellow at the State Library of Queensland.