Telethon 2024: South West teen Hannah Kerr ready to wow with voice on stage

A South West teenager is set to dazzle crowds at this year’s Telethon as Yallingup singer Hannah Kerr takes on her grandest stage yet.

Hannah, 16, is set to perform Pie Jesu, from Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Requiem, at this year’s Telethon event — accompanied only by pianist David Harris — to help raise funds for sick kids across the State.

She has been singing since she was four with lessons from various music teachers, but has spent the past four years studying with Sussanne Siegrest of SoundWaves Singing Studio.

Of all the genres she’s learnt — including jazz and contemporary styles — classical is her favourite.

“Classical soprano is a bit more challenging, but it feels a lot nicer to sing, it just sits nicer,” she said.

“I sung it (Pie Jesu) for my first audition, and then they had me in for a live audition which was really scary.

“I had other classical songs that I can sing, but they chose that one.”

Hannah’s mother Michelle Kerr said she was humbled her daughter has been given the opportunity and is looking forward to having their family, and the wider South West community, support her.

“It’s such a big honour — there were thousands of applicants who auditioned so for Hannah to be chosen, I’m just so proud,” she said.

“She’s never had a big audience like this. Even though she won’t be singing in English, there’s such an emotion when Hannah sings, it pierces the heart.”

Despite an early morning timeslot between 6.30am and 7.30am, Hannah is confident she will be supported.

“I think my grandparents and family are all coming up to see me,” she said.

“We’ll have heaps of family waking up early to watch as well.”

The Year 10 student is currently moving from Bunbury Cathedral Grammar School to Georgiana Molloy Anglican School to focus on her vocal training.

She has big plans for the future — which include studying music at university with a science degree “as a backup”.

“I’m still deciding what I want to do, but my dream is to sing classical for a living on a big stage,” she said.

In her intimidate future after Telethon, Hannah will be busy promoting her original music with her debut song It’s Love set to be released later this year, which she recorded in Sydney.

“It’s about the love I have for Dunsborough — just the feeling of connection and warmth I have for the place,” she said.

Telethon runs from Saturday, October 19 to Sunday, October 20 at RAC Arena in Perth.