More world-class voices for candlelit night

FOR years they were housemates in Melbourne and now they’re reuniting to bring their sounds back home.

Chelsea Donoghue and Brent Trotter will perform on Sunday, December 22 at Ballarat Carols by Candlelight presented by Harcourts.

Also known as solo artist, Chevalier, Donoghue and her vocals have recently travelled the world supporting teen pop singer-songwriter, Ruel.

Donoghue has always wanted to sing at Ballarat Carols by Candlelight, so was excited to be invited by the committee.

“Being my hometown, it’s very sentimental. Loving Christmas and singing all the carols, it’s something that I’d always do with my family in the lead up to Christmas,” she said.

“Now I’ve moved out of Ballarat and have performed all around the country and overseas, it’s super special to come back and it will feel nostalgic.”

Trotter, known for work in Jersey Boys, and his performances on screen in Neighbours, Rush and Miss Fischer’s Murder Mysteries, made his stage debut with BLOC.

“I did my first musical, Oliver with Matt Hustwaite, Carol’s President, in 2001,” he said.

No stranger to the Carols, Trotter initially performed in the Ballarat event as an eight-year-old and has sung on the festive stage three times.

“The Carols are a nice little institution. It’s a lot of fun, I always loved singing at Carols, and it’s really good to do it in my hometown. A lot of people don’t realise how much talent comes out of Ballarat,” he said.

“It’s good to have the calibre of people to come back. It’s going to be a really schmick show, I’m pretty excited to be a part of it.”

There is something, beyond a love of Christmas, which Donoghue said binds many of the singers announced to take the Carols stage.

“When I look at all the artists, the common link is Connie Lemke, and it’s kind of like she’s created this musical hub,” she said.

“There’s friendships, there’s amazing memories over the years, and success that’s stemmed from her own teaching school.

“I’m sure she’ll be there on the night, and she would have taught just about every performer there.”