In 2021, Katie Noonan fulfilled one of her long-held dreams when she established an a cappella vocal quartet called AVÉ – Australian Vocal Ensemble – which takes its name from two Roman words meaning “hail” and “be well”.

Her vision for the ensemble was to combine new and old repertoire, and program Australian music in each performance, while also engaging in some way or other with First Nations artists – an approach which has been paying beautiful dividends.

Two men in suits stand on the outside of two women in black dresses. Everyone is smiling.

The Australian Vocal Ensemble – Andrew O’Connor, Katie Noonan, Fiona Campbell, Andrew Goodwin. Photo supplied

AVÉ’s inaugural national concert tour, Tumbling Like Stars, featured world premiere performances from a song cycle comprising specially commissioned settings of David Malouf’s poems. These were programmed in between new arrangements of music by Renaissance and Baroque giants Bach, Handel and Tomás Luis de Victoria.

Now, an album of the same name is being released digitally by ABC Classic.

AVÉ is just one string to Noonan’s bow. Based in Brisbane, the acclaimed, classically trained singer-songwriter has led a rich and varied career encompassing opera, jazz, pop,...