ARTISTS
Your Hosts
7NEWS Presenters Rosanna Mangiarelli, Will Goodings and Amelia Mulcahy welcome you to the 79th SeaLink Carols by Candlelight.
Join them at Elder Park on Saturday 9 December, to celebrate and sing along to all your favourite Christmas Carols and songs.
You can also watch the show from the comfort of your lounge room on Sunday 10 December at 7.00 pm on 7two and 7plus and re-live all the magical moments on Christmas Day on 7 and 7plus.
the artists
Amber Lawrence
Amber is a six-time Golden Guitar winner, one of Australia’s leading country singers and the current 2023 CMAA Female Artist of the Year.
2022 was the biggest year of Amber’s career so far, releasing her ARIA number one country album, Living for the Highlights, as well as going on to receive a Best Country Album nomination at the ARIA Awards, plus six CMAA Golden Guitar nominations.
It wouldn’t be Carols without Amber and her wonderful Christmas song, “Aussie Aussie Christmas”.
Listen to Amber’s favourite Christmas songs here.
Find out more about Amber here.
Beccy cole
South Australian Beccy Cole is one of the country’s best-loved and celebrated artists. With 11 Golden Guitars to her name, including five for Female Artist of the Year, as well as multiple ARIA Top 10 Country albums, Beccy is one of Australia’s most successful singer/songwriters.
Beccy loves touring and is a most sought-after live performer. She is also an author, having penned her autobiography “Poster Girl”.
Casey Donovan
Casey was just 16 when she catapulted to fame winning Australian Idol.
Fast forward 19 years, and Casey is one of Australia’s biggest stars. A recording artist, Casey has carved out a very successful career in musical theatre, having first performed in the musical stage production of The Sapphires in 2010. Her theatre credits include; Flowerchildren – The Mamas and the Papas, We Will Rock You, Chicago, 9 to 5 and most recently &Juliet.
In 2017 Casey was a contestant on “I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here”, winning and being announced as the first ever Queen of the Jungle.
Dancer’s by donna
Dancers by Donna are honoured to share in the magic of Adelaide Carols by Candlelight each year.
Operating in Adelaide for 16 years, under the direction of Donna and Betty Dimasi, Dancers by Donna provides eclectic training and opportunities for dancers to discover their passion for performing in a fun and nurturing environment. Dancers by Donna’s involvement in charity events is one of the company’s most cherished aspects of operation.
gospo Collective
Headed by Charmaine Jones, Adelaide’s Gospo Collective is, without a doubt, one of the best local groups in Australia.
They describe themselves as; “African rhythm meets Western harmony and worlds of humans and hip hop collide.”
Led by Charmaine Jones, Gospo Collective made their Carols debut last year and wow, what a performance it was. We’re so excited to welcome them back to the stage in 2023.
Find out more about Gospo Collective here.
HARRISON CRAIG
Harrison Craig originally made his mark as winner of The Voice Australia back in 2013 and since then has achieved two #1 Aria albums, one of which went platinum, an amazing 54 show tour of Australia for his Kings of Vegas album, international performances in Canada, Indonesia and the USA and has had the unique experience of working with the likes of Seal, David Foster, Baz Luhrmann, Diane Warren, Barry Gibb and the late Olivia Newton-John.
Growing up with a stutter, Harrison’s passion for inspiring others doesn’t stop having written and released his first children’s book titled Harrison’s Song. Harrison has toured Australia and other parts of the world to speak to students, teachers and parents about chasing your dreams.
Harrison is currently writing and recording a new studio album due for release in 2024.
Jay Laga’aia
Jay Laga’aia is a versatile and talented performer with a rich and varied career. He’s appeared in numerous films and television shows, including popular Australian soap Home and Away and the Star Wars franchise. Jay is also well-known for his work in theatre, having played roles in productions such as The Lion King and Wicked the Musical and Once.
In addition to his acting career, Jay is a gifted musician and much-loved children’s entertainer; Jay has written and recorded four children’s albums with ABC for Kids and toured his live show throughout Australia. Jay is also a passionate advocate for early childhood education and literacy. He has authored several children’s books and is a spokesperson for The Early Years Count program in Queensland.
Jay is a regular at Adelaide Carols and we love seeing him perform his magic on stage.
matt evans
Born and raised in Western Australia, Matt is an actor and musician. He attended and completed a Bachelor of Contemporary Music in Voice from the world-renowned West Australian Academy of Performing Arts.
At 23, Matt auditioned for The Voice, making it to the top 20. In 2021 Matt landed the role of Theo Poulos on Home and Away, his first acting gig. Home and Away is one of the most successful and longest-running dramas on Australian television and in 2023 won the Logie Award for Most Popular Drama Series. This is Matt’s first appearance at Carols.
Paul Kelly
Paul Kelly is Australian music royalty. Adelaide born and raised, he is considered one of the nation’s greatest ever singer-songwriters and has been immortalized in Adelaide’s city centre with a laneway renamed, Paul Kelly Lane.
Paul’s career spans over 40 years and includes 17 ARIA Awards, five APRA Awards and is an ARIA Hall of Fame inductee. In 2017, Paul also received an Officer of the Order of Australia for his services to the performing arts and promotion of national identity through contributions as a singer, songwriter and musician.
We’re honoured to have Paul in our Carols line-up this year.
Paulini
With a five-octave range, Paulini is one of Australia’s finest vocalists and performers. Fijian-born, she was barely in her 20s when we watched her shine on the first series of Australian Idol, making it to the top four.
Paulini has released a number of albums and was also part of the group Young Divas. In 2017 Paulini landed the lead role in the musical, The Bodyguard and most recently was a grand finalist on Dancing With the Stars. Just like us, Paulini loves Christmas and loves performing at Carols.
Rachael Beck
Rachael Beck is best remembered for her award-winning role as Belle opposite Hugh Jackman in Beauty and the Beast. One of Australia’s leading ladies, Rachael, has performed in musicals since the 90’s. Her outstanding credits include her Green Award-nominated performance as Fantine in Les Miserables and Rumpleteaser in Cats.
Rachael also has a distinguished acting career, having played Lisa Parker in Home and Away and has appeared in dramas such as City Homicide, Stingers, The Flying Doctors, and Hey Dad. She also appeared in the film Ocean Boulevard, and as a professional singer in the Seven Network’s It Takes Two.
State Opera South Australia
State Opera South Australia was established in 1976 and forms part of the extraordinary cultural legacy of the late Premier Don Dunstan. State Opera has upheld its commitment to more opera for more people through the presentation of exceptional productions of operatic canon alongside engaging productions of contemporary operatic works, all the while championing Australian talent.
Last year we brought opera to Carols and it’s back in 2023!
Graeme Press – Musical Director
Graeme has been the Music Director for Carols since 2016 and has worked with artists such as Jessica Mauboy, Kate Ceberano, Human Nature, Leo Sayer, Dami Im, Troy Cassar-Daley, Josh Groban, Engelbert Humperdinck and Katherine Jenkins.
Graeme’s performed in sell-out tours with The Seekers as their Music Director, keyboardist and arranger for their 50th Golden celebration tours in Australia, the United Kingdom and New Zealand. He was the late Judith Durham’s personal MD from 2011 until her passing. He was also the Music Director for Andre Rieu’s Australian soprano, Mirusia Louwerse, on her solo tours and has conducted three tours of the Netherlands with Mirusia.
Graeme is the featured composer, conductor and MC for the Fever Candlelight Orchestral Concerts featuring the works of Joe Hisaishi. These sell-out concerts have been touring Australia and New Zealand in 2022 and 2023, keeping Graeme busy travelling around.
Adelaide Concert Orchestra
Founded by Carolyn Lam, The Adelaide Concert Orchestra is a professional orchestra that supports Australian and international performing artists and performs mainstage works as an orchestra in its own right.
Their musicians are highly experienced across a diverse range of genres of music, from baroque and classical to rock and pop.
The orchestra is versatile and flexible in size, adapting to suit the needs of various shows.
Find out more about Adelaide Concert Orchestra here.
Adelaide Philharmonia chorus
The Adelaide Philharmonia Chorus came into being in 1997, following a name change from The Adelaide Chorus, which was formed in 1980.
The choir is committed to performing large-scale choral works, singing a wide range of music from classical to contemporary works and promoting local talent by supporting new and established artists to perform as accompanists or soloists in its concerts.
With over 60 members, the choir performs three or four music events each year and performs with other performing organisations and festivals.
The choir has been the major choir at SeaLink Carols by Candlelight since 2016.
young Adelaide voices
Young Adelaide Voices has been inspiring and educating young choristers for 30 years.
Established in 1988 as the Adelaide Girls’ Choir, before the name change in 2004, recognising that the Young Adelaide Voices catered to the musical development of girls and boys between the ages of five and 35.
Interstate and international touring become a natural extension of their busy local schedule. News of their choir’s excellence spread internationally with tours of the United Kingdom, Europe, North America and China.
Young Adelaide Voices continues to shine in the national and international choral world. They have been part of SeaLink Carols by Candlelight since 2016.
Countdown to Carols
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