WITH no restrictions on the number of musicians they can have on stage, Ballarat Carols by Candlelight organisers are inviting local performing artists to volunteer in show\u2019s full-sized orchestra.<\/p>\n
Carols committee president Matt Hustwaite said the group is seeking interested, talented, and enthusiastic instrumentalists, who also adore Christmas, to join in the fun.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe need strings, reeds, woodwinds, percussionists… The whole shebang,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cLeading from the front with our musos for another year is our musical director Sarah Barlow, and she\u2019ll get some spectacular sounds out of our orchestra at the concert.<\/p>\n
\u201cA real highlight of Carols over the years has been the lush full sound the orchestra creates, and we\u2019re looking forward to taking advantage of a full orchestra again to give the audience the ultimate experience.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have some lovely sets of orchestrations that will be played, so please reach out if you\u2019re interested.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Carols committee is also seeking volunteers to help with all aspects of the festive community event on Sunday, 18 December.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen it comes to outdoor events like Carols, it\u2019s the more the merrier with volunteers,\u201d Mr Hustwaite said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is plenty to be done if you\u2019re a member of our Carols Crew; everything from helping patrons with tickets, to setting and packing up, rattling fundraising tins or picking up rubbish.\u201d<\/p>\n
Funds raised at Ballarat Carols by Candlelight will go towards local welfare and emergency relief work of organisations Uniting Ballarat, Anglicare Ballarat, The Salvation Army, and St Vincent de Paul Society.<\/p>\n
\u201cEvery year this fundraising is important, but especially this year, as we come off the back of COVID,\u201d Mr Hustwaite said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe agencies are telling us that year on year, there is an increase of demand, so all money raised at Carols will help to put food on the table and presents under the tree for Ballarat families in need this Christmas.\u201d<\/p>\n