You are here: Home > Arts, Culture & Festivals > Festivals, Markets & Other Events > Whitehorse Carols
Whitehorse Carols
Picnic on the lawn with family, friends andneighbours and get into the Christmas spirit by singing along to your favourite carols.
Whitehorse Carols will be held on Sunday 11 December 2011 at the Whitehorse Civic Centre precinct, 379-397 Whitehorse Road, Nunawading.
The evening begins with free rides, amusements and entertainment for the children including Channel 9’s Magical Tales featuring Sparkles the Fairy and William the Wizard. As an extra special treat in 2011, Santa has been invited to offer his ear for children’s wishes and his smiles for photo opportunities in his own Christmas setting.
Entertainer Darryl Cotton will be MC for the evening, guiding the audience through a three-act concert beginning with performances from the renowned CHIME Choir, Box Hill Community Arts Centre Choir and the Children’s Performing Company of Australia (CPCA) – all boasting talented members of the Whitehorse community.
Chart-topping Australian singer-songwriter Wendy Stapleton takes to the stage for the second act joined by the awe-inspiring 70-member strong CHIME Choir, to sing a mixture of original songs and traditional carols.
In much loved tradition ‘The True Meaning of Christmas’, combining popular religious music and sing-along carols, will be presented by the Combined Churches of North Blackburn as the third act and final hour of the concert.
The Whitehorse Civic Centre site will be a hive of activity leading up to the concert, with a Christmas Farmers’ Market taking place from 6am to 1pm followed by the Nunawading Craft and Produce Market from 1pm to 5pm.
Visitors are encouraged to purchase refreshments and a candle or glow stick at the concert to assist local charities and community service organisations with their annual fundraising efforts. Media partner Channel 9 will also share in the Christmas spirit with plenty of giveaways.
The main concert will run from 6pm to 9.30pm. Free children's rides and entertainment will operate from 5.30pm to 8.30pm. Food stalls will operate from 5.30pm to 9.30pm.
For more information on Whitehorse Carols 2011, visit Council’s website at www.whitehorse.vic.gov.au/Carols.html
Darryl Cotton
Darryl Cotton is recognised as one of Australia’s most popular and successful entertainers, with a career of more than 30 years in the entertainment industry. Darryl was a founding member of the Australian rock band ZOOT, with their classic 1970s cover of ‘Eleanor Rigby’ establishing them as one of the most popular Australian bands of the era. He has also achieved a successful solo career. A new generation of fans were introduced to Darryl during the 1980s when he took to the television screen to host The Early Bird Show, along with side kick Marty Monster. In recent years, Darryl has regularly performed with several Australian music ‘legends’ including Russell Morris, Ronnie Burns and Jim Keays.
Wendy Stapleton
Since her first professional appearance at the age of nine, Wendy Stapleton has established herself as a great Australian singer-songwriter, musical theatre performer and television actress. She has performed with some of the best of Australian talent including John Farnham, Glen Shorrock, Jon English and Joe Camilleri. Well known for forming Wendy and the Rockets in 1979, she has also featured in the acclaimed show Girls Girls Girls! starring Wendy, Debra Byrne and Nikki Nicholls. On screen, Wendy has appeared in Neighbours, Blue Heelers and Hallifax F.P. More recently, Wendy performed in the world premiere of Minefields and Miniskirts.
CHIME Choir (Choral Institute of Melbourne Inc.)
The Choral Institute of Melbourne aims to foster a love of music and singing while providing a structure for choristers to develop their talents. The organisation provides a musically competent and trained body of choristers who perform at the highest possible standard whilst assisting their choristers in their study of music and general artistic development. The choir enjoys presenting choral music to audiences across Australia and throughout the world.
Children’s Performing Company of Australia
The Children’s Performing Company of Australia (www.cpca.com.au) is committed to developing young people through the performing arts. Since 1984, the company has provided innovative high quality performing arts training to young people aged five to 18 years of every ability and level of interest. Classes aim to equip young people with the skills and confidence to contribute their own ideas while accommodating the ideas of others. End of season, charity and touring performances aim to give young people a wide variety of onstage experience and boost confidence and skills in live performances and public speaking.
Box Hill Community Arts Centre Choir
Formed in 2009, the Box Hill Community Arts Choir has provided more than 150 locals with the opportunity to sing, make friends, and create beautiful harmonies. The choir’s repertoire includes world music, gospel, jazz and popular standards, folk, and simple rounds and chants. Members of the choir meet every Sunday afternoon during school terms. Past performances include centre celebrations, Federation Square Festival of Choirs, Surrey Music Café, City of Whitehorse Harmony Day and Spring Festival, and Whitehorse Carols 2010.
Combined Churches of Blackburn North
The Combined Churches of Blackburn North are proud to continue their involvement with the Whitehorse Carols. The churches will present ‘The True Meaning of Christmas’ – a spoken word piece featuring special guest narrator poet Cameron Semmens, contemporised classic Christmas songs and a children’s choir item threaded into a live dramatic presentation.