Solo & Group Performers

Presenting our awesome vocal team for 2025!

Akeera Chapman

AKEERA CHAPMAN is a 21-year-old local singer with a big passion for performing and sharing her voice. Akeera gained much experience performing at numerous events including Generations in Jazz and the Adelaide Carols by Candlelight, performing on stage with the likes of Dami Im, Paul Kelly and Hugh Sheridan. More recently, Akeera was part of the Backing Choir for the GOSPO Collective directed by Charmaine Jones.

Akeera has performed in their ‘Whitney – The Greatest Love of All’ show at the 2023 and 2024 Fringe Festivals, as well as their ‘Sip and Saaaaang’ 2025 Fringe Show. She also travelled to Sydney to perform in the 2024 ‘Night at the Barracks’ music festival where GOSPO performed both their ‘Whitney’ show as well as their Fringe Award Winning ‘Jackson vs Jackson’ show. Currently studying her Master of Physiotherapy at Flinders University, Akeera is excited to be part of the Carols Vocal Team again this year.

Bella Jenke

BELLA JENKE is a 21-year-old singer from Strathalbyn.

Bella has been singing in choirs and vocal groups almost her whole life and is passionate about sharing her love of music and performing for an audience.

Bella was a part of the 2021 Class of Cabaret, where she created and performed her very own set as part of the Adelaide Cabaret Festival while still in school!

She has been a part of the Mount Barker Carols family for 7 years now and is so excited to be back to sing for you and wish you all a very Merry Christmas!

Charli Schulz

CHARLI SCHULZ is a singer and songwriter based in the Adelaide Hills. She is currently making original music as part of indie-folk/pop band ‘Close Friends’ as a vocalist, writer, and occasional guitarist.

Charli’s keen fascination for the voice has led her to her studies in Speech Pathology at the University of Adelaide, where she is in her third year.

Charli is excited to be part of the Carols Vocal team again!

Chelsea Rigter

CHELSEA RIGTER is 15 years old and in Year 9 at Loreto College Marryatville. Singing has always been part of her, and she loves sharing it with people. She has many hobbies but singing has always been her favourite!

Chelsea is in her school’s vocal ensemble program, which helps her experience challenging repertoire, especially focusing on jazz. She is also a member of the Australian Girls Choir (AGC) and their Performing Choir. Last year, she was given the role of being a section leader. Chelsea has grown as a performer through the many opportunities at her school and with AGC.

She would love to pursue music in the future, and is excited to be part of the Mount Barker Carols Vocal team this year.

Edison Love

EDISON LOVE is a musician, songwriter and performer, among many other things.

He is a multi-instrumentalist who just happens to be not-so bad at singing. He writes his own pop-rock style music under his stage name, ‘Breadtag’ and has performed on many stages across Adelaide. Edison is also into musical theatre and has played several leading roles such as Billy Elliot and Beetlejuice in youth theatre productions.

Edison hopes to further grow his songwriting, singing and performing abilities in the future and is rather pleased to be part of the Carols Vocal team this year.

Jasmine Howis

JASMINE HOWIS has been singing her whole life and entered Adelaide’s music scene a few years ago with her acoustic duo ‘bliss’. ‘bliss’ performed live music at wineries across SA, and at the Royal Show in 2022.

Jasmine has recently broken into the Adelaide theatre scene, performing as The Diva Sheena in The Boy from Oz (The Met, 2024) and more recently at Meg March in Little Women (HMC, 2025).

Jasmine is delighted to be part of the Mt Barker Carols Vocal team again this year.

Eliza Lovelock

ELIZA LOVELOCK is a local performer who recently graduated from Tabor College with a Bachelor of Music.

This year Eliza has performed in three Fringe shows; travelled to America directing and coaching hundreds of aspiring actors and vocalists for three months; performed locally with the Mount Barker District Concert Band and Mount Barker Big Band and you will no doubt see Eliza at many other local Carols events over the next few weeks.

Eliza is incredibly happy to be back on the Team Sexton/Harris stage and wishes you all a very Merry Christmas.

Jessica Saliba

JESSICA SALIBA is 16 years old and in Year 10 at Cornerstone College.

She is a Littlehampton resident who loves singing and anything to do with music. She has been part of the Australian Girls Choir for four years, very quickly moving through the ranks and achieving solos as well as becoming soprano 1 section leader in 2023.

She is an active member of the Cornerstone College Music program, involved in multiple vocal and mixed ensembles as well as taking vocal lessons from Lisa Duffield. Aside from music, in her free time she enjoys being on stage with theatre or drawing and painting. Anything to do with art makes her happy. But she also has a profound love for science and maths!

She is always looking for new performance opportunities and is so excited to be part of the Carols Vocal team again this year!

Emily Stewart

EMILY STEWART is a 16-year-old local singer with over 10 years performing experience. Beginning vocal lessons in 2014 at the Mighty Good Talent School when she was five, then moving to Rockit Performing Arts when she was six, Emily is now having vocal lessons with Lisa Duffield and has been heavily involved in the Music program at Cornerstone College since Year 7.
Apart from learning voice, Emily has also been studying Jazz Ballet and Heels Dance with Rockit. She has also had extensive performance experience with dance productions and theatre – in 2018 she was part of the ensemble for ‘The Wizard of Oz Area Spectacular’ at the Entertainment Centre and was part of the Adelaide Youth Theatre’s 2023 production of ‘Frozen – the Musical’. Last year she was part of the Adelaide Theatre Academy’s Fringe production of ‘The Wizard of Oz’ and has been part of drama productions at Cornerstone College – 2023 ‘The Real Story of Alice in Wonderland’ and 2024 ‘This Murder was Staged!’. Emily is thrilled to be part of the Carols Vocal team this year.

Josie McClelland

JOSIE McCLELLAND has just finished Year 11 at Cornerstone College with a passion for music, singing and performance.

Josie has been learning saxophone and guitar along with voice during her time at Cornerstone and has enjoyed being a part of two choirs, a band and a saxophone ensemble at the College.

She loves to write original pieces and hopes to develop her voice further. She can’t wait to perform at this year’s carols and is thrilled to be part of the Carols Vocal team again!

Gus Smith

GUS SMITH started his theatre journey in 2001.

Since then, he has worked with many theatre companies around Adelaide in both onstage performing and backstage crewing capacities.

He has also performed at the Elder Park Carols as part of the 200 strong choir back in 2013 and as part of a trio representing Northern Light Theatre Company, at the Playford Civic Carols in Elizabeth, 2016.

2024 saw his debut at the Mount Barker Carols and Fireworks where a great night was had by all involved. He is pleased to be part of the Carols Vocal Team once more.

Lisa Duffield

LISA DUFFIELD is one of Adelaide’s premiere singers who has had a varied and vibrant career in the music industry with her band and has toured nationally and internationally.

She has performed in many musical theatre productions, including the national touring production of ‘Oklahoma!’

She is an accomplished compere for many large events, and she can also be found performing with the Mount Barker District Concert Band, Mount Barker Big Band, and other Adelaide musicians.

Lisa is an experienced voice teacher, known for her encouraging teaching style and the success of her students. Many past students now have flourishing musical careers, and many have moved on to further vocal studies.

She is the vocal teacher for Cornerstone College, and one of the vocal team at St Francis de Sales College. Lisa also coaches via Zoom, working with several up-and-coming young singers in Los Angeles!

Lisa is pleased to be part of the Carols Vocal team again.

Max Maher

Music has surrounded MAX MAHER his whole life; his grandparents were both music teachers, his father is a multi-instrumentalist and singer, and his eldest brother is an exceptional guitarist. Max himself has been singing and playing the piano for over ten years, and it remains a great joy and expression of love for him.

Max has recently broken into the Adelaide theatre scene; his first show was alongside his brother, from the orchestra pit as the second keyboardist, in The Addams Family (The MET, 2024). This was followed closely by The Boy from Oz (The MET, 2024) where he made his stage debut. Little Women (HMC, 2025), playing Laurie Laurence and he’s just finished a successful season as The SQUIP in Hills Musical Company’s Be More Chill.

Offstage, Max is a cinephile; loves great television, and of course the theatre. He composes his own music and covers songs on his social media, @max784music to keep his creativity flowing.

This is Max’s sixth year performing in the Mt Barker Carols & Fireworks and he’s as excited as ever to be here again!

Tayla Arbon

TAYLA ARBON has just graduated from Cornerstone College and has always loved to sing.

From musical theatre to pop ballads, singing has always been her passion. Tayla has lots of experience with vocal performance including school choirs, musicals, and local community events being guided by her vocal coach, Lisa Duffield.

Tayla aims to pursue the performing arts through university in the future.

Tayla is very happy to be part of the Carols Vocal team again this year.

Tilly Lovelock

MATILDA LOVELOCK is a third-year Bachelor of Music Student, studying at the Tabor Institute of Music.

Tilly loves performing and is one of the lead singers in Tabor’s funk band. Tilly had her Fringe debut this year in ‘Good Vibes, a Tribute to Roy Ayers’, as well as performing in the GOSPO choir led by Charmaine Jones for their ‘Sip and Saaaaang’ show.

Last year, Tilly had her musical theatre debut with Tabor’s production of ‘We Will Rock You’, performing in the ensemble.

Tilly also loves performing in her acoustic duo ‘Tilly and Lucas’ with her partner Lucas.

Tilly is excited to be performing for you tonight for the eighth time in the Mount Barker Carols.

Willow Rist

WILLOW RIST is 21 years old and a passionate musician and artist.

She studied Jazz Performance at Adelaide University, where she has had the pleasure of singing with both ‘The Adelaide Connection’, and ‘The Wardell’s’ – and has been privileged to participate in workshops with American artist Jazzmeia Horn.

Besides study, Willow is a part of the local Adelaide band “Close Friends” and is the current vocal teacher at Scott Creek Primary School.

Willow is excited to be part of the Carols Vocal team again.