Lenita Woodsbey, Bianca Lugo (BeeJae) and Cath Purcell three finalists from Mount Isa for the inaugural Queensland Music Festival Songs That Made Me mentorship program under Katie Noonan and will perform with Deborah Conway in a concert in Isa next month.

Lenita, from Woodsbey Transport, said she was always a singer in family, church, and community gatherings and heard about the QMF event in her role as secretary of MICE (Mount Isa Community Ensemble) adult choir.

“Out of my cupboard I dragged some old ideas and the song I wrote was a reflection on my mum,” Lenita said.

“I can’t wait to work with Katie Noonan, she’s such a mentor.

Fellow performer BeeJae said she grew up in a musical family and even went on to tour with them in America.

“I’ve been in a band since I was 12,” BeeJae said.

Now in Mount Isa as a youth social worker for the last five years, she said she has been raising money to get back to the States.

“I sing and play at church as well, and community events – we play the fete, we mainly do cover songs but my brother’s now got a studio so we’ve been experimenting with music,” she said.

The program supports emerging female singer-songwriters who submitted videos performing two songs – an original song and a song that inspired them.

Ms Purcell, a QPS sergeant, was “blown away” to be chosen and said she was motivated by other female leaders in Mount Isa. “After talking to them I decided, yes, I can do this,” she said. “My cover, Knocking on Heaven’s Door was something I grew up with.” She said she was looking forward to working with Mount Isa mentor, Megan Sarmardin.

“I really like her work,” Cath said.