Congratulations Nathaniel Miller – ARIA’s 2024 Music Teacher Award Winner

Australian music’s night of nights celebrated Nathaniel Miller’s excellence in Music Education!

The Song Room is proud to announce that Nathaniel Miller has been named the 2024 ARIA Music Teacher Award winner! His work at Bulman School, blending music and culture, is creating profound and lasting impacts on his students and community.

Nathaniel was presented with the award live at the ARIA Awards at The Hordern Pavilion on Gadigal land! Presented by Darwin-based DJ and producer CYRIL, this award shines a light on Nathaniel’s remarkable achievements as a music educator. The Song Room has worked alongside the community of Bulman for ten years, and we are thrilled to see Nathaniel’s powerful work celebrated with this award.

Nathaniel teaches the endangered First Nations languages Dalabon and Rembarrnga through music. By writing, singing, and performing in these languages for the first time, his students are not only preserving their heritage but also building resources—recordings that will teach future generations.

“It’s about more than just playing instruments. It’s about keeping our culture alive, building confidence, and creating a platform for self-expression,” says Nathaniel.

The program has brought the broader community together, reconnecting families with their languages, some of which they haven’t heard since childhood. It fosters pride, strengthens bonds, and supports a positive connection to the school.

In a remote area where music education was once inaccessible, Nathaniel has:

• Created a dedicated music production space for students.
• Designed a program led by and for First Nations People.
• Improved school attendance and a love of learning

Nathaniel’s teaching extends beyond music. He emphasizes confidence and self-esteem, encouraging older students to model these values for younger ones. His work has enhanced focus, engagement, and performance outcomes, evident in live community events and video clips that share this journey with the world.

Nathaniel’s inspiration stems from his father, Peter Miller, who performed globally with his band Blekbala Mujic, even touring with Midnight Oil. Nathaniel carries forward this musical legacy, ensuring music remains central to the Bulman community.

“Working alongside Nathaniel over the years and having seen his transformative work, we are ecstatic to see his outstanding contributions to music education being celebrated.”

– Alice Gerlach, CEO The Song Room

Congratulations to everyone in the Bulman School Community and Mimal Land Management for their partnership in preserving language.

Watch Nathaniel’s inspiring story here.

The ARIA Music Teacher Award, in partnership with The Song Room, celebrates educators like Nathaniel who use music to transform lives and preserve culture.

You can learn more about our programs, including the one Nathaniel is a part of, by clicking here.