The 2025 Rotary Carols in the Park returns to Castlemaine’s Victory Park this Friday evening and is once again set to feature a host of local talent.
Rotarian and Carols coordinator Scott Buchanan is at the helm for his fourth time and said it would be a special evening not to be missed.
“We will once again have the local ‘Just Brass’ students performing to warm up the crowd before the official program gets underway at 6.30pm and they will also be part of the program this year,” he said.
‘Just Brass’ was formed by the Castlemaine Salvation Army with students from local state primary schools receiving instruction under the leadership of Dean Curtis.
Last year, because of funding difficulties, the Thompson Foundry Band and Castlemaine Rotary Club funded the program for two terms to keep the junior band program alive. Just Brass has now made a fresh start with volunteer tutors going into primary schools to teach brass on a zero budget.
“It’s a wonderful free program for local students and we can’t wait to welcome Dean and the students. Locals may have caught their recent performances outside the Maxi IGA on December 1 and 8,” Scott said.
“Derek Guille will be hosting the carols and of course we will have the beloved Thompson’s Foundry Band providing the musical accompaniment and Castlemaine Pride Choir will lead the community singing,” he said.
“We also have a long list of special guests including the MaCapella Singers led by Tara Flynn, Michael Treloar, and aspiring young opera singer Orvokki Britton.
“We are also delighted to welcome local singer Stella Carlon-Tozer who has just completed her first year of study at the Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School. Stella will treat the crowd to a very special rendition of Eva Cassidy’s of Somewhere Over the Rainbow.”
Be sure to get along and catch Stella and all of the homegrown talent at this joyous community event.
Castlemaine Lions Club members will be manning the barbecue once again and there will even be a special visit from the man in red with some treats for carollers of all ages!
The Rotary Club of Castlemaine will also be making presentations to a number of local charities following on from the success of their recent truck show.
So grab your chair or picnic rug, warm up your singing voice and get along to Victory Park this Friday evening.
