2024 Event Information
The Premier’s Gala Concerts showcase some of Australia’s greatest entertainers to celebrate NSW seniors. In 2024, audiences enjoyed performances from Damien Leith, Paulini, Darren Coggan, and Julie Lea Goodwin.
The NSW Department of Communities and Justice presents the Premier's Gala Concerts to thank NSW seniors for their valued and ongoing contributions to their families and communities.
We can't wait to share our exciting line-up for 2025!
Concert Video
Take a look at all the highlights from the 2024 NSW Premier's Gala Concerts.
2024 NSW Premier's Gala Concerts
Concert Gallery
View images from the 2024 Premier's Gala Concerts.
2024 Premier's Gala Concerts Talent
Damien Leith
Damien Leith is a multi-talented artist that has made his mark in Australia as a singer/ songwriter, producer, author, playwright and tv/radio host personality.
The talented family man first captured the attention and affection of Australians when he contested the 2006 edition of Australian Idol – a series he went on to win.
Over the past 17 years Damien has enjoyed platinum-selling albums selling over 800,000 albums and won many prestigious awards including Arias, a Golden Guitar, Songwriter of the Year and many more.
He also shares his expertise as a singer/songwriter and has created online courses to help artists improve their voice and songwriters to write, record and release their own music.
Damien continues to tour extensively every year. When he is not touring and performing, he spends his time in his recording studio where he is a highly sought-after songwriter (published through Wise Music Publishing) and producer. Writing for many artists, he has won the 2016 APRA/ASA songwriter of the year and 2017 APRA/AMCOS GOLDEN GUITAR winner for song of the year.
Damien also loves breakfast radio and is currently breakfast radio announcer with Jade on WAVE FM 96.5 in Wollongong.
Darren Coggan
Darren Coggan is one of Australia’s most exciting and diverse artists, a masterful storyteller with a knack of weaving fascinating and perceptive tales through his songs.
With a swag of Golden Guitars, Independent Country Music Awards and the coveted Toyota Star Maker under his belt, Darren has carved an impressive career in the Australian country music industry.
His touring productions celebrating the songbooks of Glen Campbell, John Denver, James Taylor and his critically acclaimed portrait of Cat Stevens have inspired audiences in the grandest theatres across the globe including sell out seasons at the Sydney Opera House Concert Hall, Glasgow Royal Concert Hall and Liverpool Philharmonic.
Darren is currently presenting the lifestyle TV program Sydney Weekender for network Seven.
Paulini
PauIini has been heralded as one of the finest vocalists and performers to come out of Australia. The Fijian born songstress rose to fame through television screens on the very first season of Australian Idol which thrust her into the spotlight. Making it through to the final four, she won the hearts of a nation with her angelic, five octave range, and engaging personality.
Post Idol, PauIini rose to the top of the Australian ARIA Charts in 2004 with her debut Platinum album ‘One Determined Heart’ and her Platinum smash single ‘Angel Eyes’, both hitting the #1 spot and receiving Aria Number 1 Chart Awards. Paulini is still 1 of only 10 Australian female solo artists to have a #1 album debut on the Australian ARIA Charts. In 2006 PAULINI went on to become a part of the chart-topping Young Divas.
Paulini has played the lead role as Rachel Marron in The Bodyguard Musical and starred in the Saturday Night Fever Musical cast as a lead vocalist, followed by another lead role as Dionne in the 50th Anniversary of Hair the Musical in 2019.
Paulini returned to television in 2019 in the hit show The Masked Singer followed by and appearance on I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here Australia and in Chess the Musical the Australian tour. Paulini competed in Eurovision Australia Decides which coincided with her latest single ‘We Are One’. This year we watched Paulini grace our television screens once again this time competing for the Mirrorball trophy on Dancing with the Stars!
Julie Lea Goodwin
Julie Lea Goodwin is a principal soprano with Opera Australia. In 2019, she featured as Maria in the outdoor production of West Side Story on Sydney Harbour. For Opera Australia, she revisited the roles of Musetta in La bohème and Susanna in Le nozze di Figaro and sang Madama Cortese in Il viaggio a Reims. She also created the role of Wendy Whiteley in the World Premiere of Elena Kats-Chernin’s Whiteley. She returned to Opera Australia to sing the title role in The Merry Widow and Musetta; later in 2023, she sang Juliette in Die tote Stadt in Auckland.
Aged only 19, Julie Lea was invited to sing the leading role of Christine Daae in the national tour of The Phantom of the Opera – starring Anthony Warlow.
Other highlights have included the title role in The Cunning Little Vixen for Sydney Chamber Opera and her Green Room Award-nominated performance as Grace in Annie of which The Courier Mail said: "secretary Grace is a truly wonderful example of a gifted actress with an exceptional voice working magic".
Her debut classical album Love Went a-Riding was released by Skylark Classics. Julie Lea has featured as soprano soloist with the Melbourne Symphony (The Music of AR Rahmen), the Adelaide Symphony (Gershwin’s American Songbook) and Sydney Philharmonia (A Cole Porter Celebration).
She is a proud Ambassador for Collezione Santina Haute Couture.
Other NSW Seniors Festival events
Image
