While some changes to regular proceedings have been made, Mitchell Conservatorium [MitCon] has revealed this year's Carols by Candlelight will go ahead on December 13 in a unique new location.
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A location so unique that it has prompted MitCon to rebrand the long-running event as 'Carols at Tremain's', with the Tremain's Mill precinct to step in for Machattie Park this year.
MitCon executive director Dr Graham Sattler said the scaled-down event has been designed specifically to give keen carolers something to celebrate in what has been a year of disruption for mass gatherings.
"It's going to be more of a concert performance than a large community event because we have to be careful with COVID-safe compliance," Dr Sattler said.
"This will be a very intimate, 90-minute performance for a maximum crowd of 400 people, and it will be live streamed on the MitCon Facebook page for families to tune in at home."
Dr Sattler said MitCon has spent a number of months reorganising Carols by Candlelight to suit a COVID-safe environment, and is excited to bring the event to Tremain's Mill for the first time in its 42-year history.
"While the regular event has a fantastic vibe about it, we're excited about bringing it to Tremain's as it's a beautiful public area the Bathurst community is really warming to," he said.
"Even though it's an event limited to numbers, it will still be held outdoors and the sound will spread throughout the lower Bathurst CBD."
Due to COVID regulations, Dr Sattler said performances will be limited to soloists and small ensembles.
"Larger ensembles are still off the table of course, which is somewhat of a shame as they add so much to the event year after year," he said.
"But we're confident this plan will serve as an exciting substitute, and there's an incredibly talented lineup of local soloists locked in to entertain on the night."
It may be a completely different Carols to what Bathurst is used to, but Dr Sattler said it'll be more important than ever to spread some Christmas cheer through music.
"Whether you're at Tremain's or watching from home, there'll be plenty of opportunities to engage with the event," he said.
"It will be different, and hopefully it's the only time we'll have to run it this way, but most importantly, we've been granted the go ahead to keen an iconic community Christmas tradition going."
The event will once again be sponsored by Reliance Bank, continuing their long running association with MitCon to stage the event.
Ticketing for the event is essential to abide by current COVID regulations.
Tickets are $5 per person and available at www.mitchellconservatorium.edu.au.
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Sam Bolt
"I'm not in the business of telling people what to do. I'm much more in the business of describing things, situations and stuff like that and leaving them out there, and you can make up your minds about them." -Nick Cave
"I'm not in the business of telling people what to do. I'm much more in the business of describing things, situations and stuff like that and leaving them out there, and you can make up your minds about them." -Nick Cave
