Musically gifted to perform carols

THE young and musically gifted will be on show this weekend as part of the 2009 Southern Cross University Carols by Candlelight in Lismore.

Lismore DET extension band members James Van Denbogert (left), 13, Kurtis Wyatt, 15, Jessica Weeks, 15, and Teagan Brownrigg, 15, will perform at Carols by Candlelight in Lismore. Picture: David Neilsen

THE young and musically gifted will be on show this weekend as part of the 2009 Southern Cross University Carols by Candlelight in Lismore.

Thirty talented school kids from around the region were hand picked by local organisers to make up the Lismore Department of Education and Training (DET) Extension Band in 2008.

The band provides an environment for those young musicians who don’t have access to musical activities at school and who were passionate about their sounds, band organiser Leone Cox said.

“The band members are mostly in Years 5 and 6 from primary schools around the region and there are a couple of high school students too,” she said.

“These kids had to go through an audition process and were hand picked by us so they were quite skilled before joining the band, yet all have improved immensely over the past year.

“They are very committed to their music and have a lot of fun being involved.”

With rehearsals taking place once a week and a reputable record of performances under their belt, the band is more than ready for the show on Sunday afternoon.

“These kids give up their own time to practice and are pushed to their potential,” Ms Cox said.

“The band is very enthusiastic, has a desire to entertain and will be playing for the joy of music.”

The Lismore Christmas Carnival and Carols by Candlelight is on Sunday from 6-9pm at Riverside Park, Lismore.

This annual event is sponsored by The Northern Star. Grab your carol songbook, part of the Carols by Candlelight lift-out, in tomorrow’s Star.

Originally published as Musically gifted to perform carols