JACOB Ridgeway was once too shy to perform at a pub around Raymond Terrace, where he grew up.
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But last month he sang in front of 2000 people, including members of Queensland's government, at the opening of the G20 Cultural Celebrations.
The G20 Cultural Celebrations kicked off on October 24, marking 24 days of music and events in honour of the delegates, media representatives and visitors to Brisbane for the G20 Leaders Summit.
The summit, drawing some of the world's most powerful leaders including United States president Barack Obama, was held in Brisbane on November 15 and 16.
Mr Ridgeway, 24, once a student of Hunter River High School in Raymond Terrace now attends the Aboriginal Centre for the Performing Arts in Brisbane.
He and two other students from the arts school were selected to perform an act at the G20 Cultural Celebrations opening ceremony at South Bank.
"The three of us sang My Island Home but it ended up being a big ensemble," he said.
William Barton, a famous Indigenous composer, joined in on the didgeridoo.
Mr Ridgeway performed multiple roles in Queensland Performing Arts Centre's production Black Electric.