Opera star and Ferny Creek resident Suzanne Johnston gets festive ahead of this year’s Carols by Candlelight. For the full story, turn to page 3.By Ed Merrison
THE Hills will soon be well and truly alive with the sound of unique and possibly record-breaking music.
Carols by Candlelight will take place on Saturday, 3 December with something for everyone, all at once – the spontaneous choir.
Legendary baritone-voiced chorus master Peter Gleeson will aim to get the entire crowd to sing in unison at the event – and with more than 10,000 people expected to attend, that is going to make some noise.
Mr Gleeson has been creating spontaneous choirs for 16 years at events throughout Victoria, New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory.
He said his motivation was to inspire individuals to try something they never had before and to connect them in a fun-filled way with a crowd of complete strangers.
Mr Gleeson’s choirs focus less on traditional singing and more on the creation of a chorus of sound using Mexican waves of laughter, clapping, tongue-clicking and other sounds that some people may never have made nor heard before.
He will work with the children in the audience at 6.45pm and then again with adults and children at 7.45pm.
Everyone in the audience will have the chance to join in and create a sonic beacon that could be heard as far as 10 kilometres away.
Mr Gleeson’s largest spontaneous choir to date comprised 4000 voices, and he hoped the Knox community would come along in record numbers.
Knox mayor Jenny Moore said the spontaneous choir was one more reason for Knox residents to include themselves in the community celebration Carols by Candlelight.
“Regardless of your gender, nationality, age or ability to sing, you can participate in this joyful sonic event – one that truly epitomises the meaning of harmony, our theme for Carols by Candlelight this year,” she said.
The spontaneous choir is just one reason to bring the family, a picnic and a sense of festive fun to the free event at the Ferntree Gully Reserve.
Other reasons include children’s art activities starting at 5pm, a fireworks display and a visit from Santa.
And then there’s the host of stars, including Australian music legend Ross Wilson, music theatre star David Rogers-Smith, the National Children’s Choir and the Australian Youth Band Southern Stars.
Perhaps the brightest star of all will be acclaimed opera diva and Ferny Creek resident Suzanne Johnston.
Ms Johnston, who has performed in London, Paris, Milan, New York and Los Angeles, will be saving her best for Ferntree Gully when she takes the reins as master of ceremonies for the evening.
“It’s great to have a community Christmas celebration like this that brings a lot of local talent together,” Ms Johnston said.
“It’s a wonderful opportunity to come and have a good old sing for everyone, including me.
“And there’s nothing more stirring than Christmas carols.”
