For 2022 we have a team of incredibly talented local artists to entertain you with wonderful Christmas songs and lead you in classic carols with a contemporary twist, all backed by the Carols Big Band
and performing on the Business Mt Barker main stage!
Lisa Duffield
Lisa is one of Adelaide’s premiere singers. She performs with her band at many venues in Adelaide and has toured regularly nationally and internationally. She toured for the Australian season of “Oklahoma!’ and has performed as a singer, dancer and actor in many stage shows and productions. Lisa is also an accomplished compère and performs locally with the Mt Barker District Concert Band and Mt Barker Big Band. She is highly regarded as a talented and accomplished performer who never fails to give a polished and professional performance. Her voice and stage energy are her trademark! Lisa is an experienced voice teacher, with many past students now following successful musical careers. She is the vocal teacher at Cornerstone College and St Francis de Sales College.
Ashleigh Jocks
Ashleigh graduated from high school in 2015 and gained a position in the Jazz Performance degree at the Elder Conservatorium. In 2018, she received an award for Outstanding Soloist in the international DownBeat Music Awards. She was also named Top Voice Undergraduate at the Helpmann Academy Jazz Awards and performed alongside New York City jazz band “The Hot Sardines” in 2018. Since graduating from university, Ashleigh now teaches private voice and piano lessons in and around the Adelaide Hills. Ashleigh is thrilled to be part of the Mount Barker Carols team again this year!
Eliza Lovelock
Eliza Lovelock is a 2nd year Bachelor of Music Student at Tabor College. A keen vocalist and performer, she’s in various ensembles at Tabor, including their award-winning A’ Capella group ‘The Tabor Tones’ and in their Funk Band on trumpet. She is also taking part in Tabor’s first musical and was part of the Drum Corp in the “2022 National Pharmacies Christmas Pageant” James Morrison 90-piece band. Eliza also plays trumpet locally in both the Mount Barker District Concert Band and Mt Barker Big Band. Not one to stop at just singing and playing instruments, Eliza has a show on Lofty Radio, called “Eliza on Lofty”, where she talks about movies, music and explores the local talent. She was also short-listed for the “Adelaide Festival Centre’s Tertiary Students Got Talent”, where she won First place! Along with her sister Tilly and brother Harry (he is in the band), she is also a keen sportsperson and can be seen playing, coaching or umpiring netball and softball on the weekends for some downtime! She is pleased to be a part of Carols again in 2022.
Matilda Lovelock
Matilda has just completed Year 12 at St Francis de Sales College where she was Student Leader and R-12 Music Captain. Tilly was involved in several ensembles at the College, including Musaic Senior Vocal, VoCo, the small Senior Vocal A’ Capella Ensemble, and JazZone, St Francis’ competition choir for Generations in Jazz. A vocal student under Lisa Duffield, Tilly is also one of three vocalists who front the senior band, Heart’n’Soul which she is also the captain of. However, her talents don’t stop there; Tilly also plays electric bass in the College’s Jazz ensemble, de Groove, as well as Mixed Bag. Along with her sister, Eliza, she enjoys bringing music to the local and wider community. She is delighted to perform for you today, on her 18th birthday, for her fifth time at carols.
Bella Jenke
Isabella is a 19-year-old singer from Strathalbyn. She has been singing for around eight years and is passionate about all thing Music, with a special love for performing for an audience. Bella was a part of the 2021 Class of Cabaret, which involved creating and performing in her very own set as part of the Adelaide Cabaret Festival and has also been a part of the Mount Barker Carols family for 5 years now! Bella is so excited to be back to sing for you and wishes you all a very Merry Christmas!
Akeera Chapman
Akeera Chapman is an 18-year-old singer with a big passion for performing and sharing her voice. Starting singing lessons with Lisa Duffield in 2016, Akeera has accumulated invaluable experience over the years. She has performed the National Anthem at both the Women’s Tour Down Under Nairne start and the Australia Day Citizenship Ceremony at Auchendarroch House. She has also performed in the Strathalbyn, Nairne and Mount Barker Carols, on top of other smaller gigs around Mount Barker. Currently studying a Bachelor of Medical Science at Flinders University, Akeera is excited to be back on the Business Mt Barker stage to perform as part of the Mount Barker Carols 2022.
Willow Rist
Willow Rist is an 18-year-old who is currently in her first year of studying jazz at the Elder Conservatorium of Music. She has been singing her whole life and intends to continue for a long time yet. Willow is a proud Alumni of the Australian girls’ choir and is now singing with the Adelaide Connection Jazz Choir. She enjoys listening to songs from all genres and primarily performs musical theatre and jazz pieces but secretly hopes to start a Hozier cover band one day.
Narelle Thomas
Narelle is a local Adelaide Hills resident and school teacher at Littlehampton Primary School. Narelle’s musical career has included playing the lead role in the much-loved musical, “Annie Get Your Gun” with the Whyalla players and she has been a vocalist and performer with several high profile Adelaide cover bands over the past 3 decades including ‘Mumbo Jumbo’ and ‘Slaves Of Rhythm’. She currently performs regularly around Adelaide and surrounding regions with bands ‘Workin’ Overtime’ and “One Night Stand”. Narelle’s versatile vocal range includes music from eras and genres spanning as far back as the 1920’s with Gospel classics and as recent as Ed Sheeran and Pink with modern day hits. She loves to sing powerhouse ballads just as much as an 80’s rock classic or a country music gem. She is always grateful to share the joy of music with others. In her spare time she is a marriage celebrant and her most cherished role is that of foster mum to three adorable children.
Maximillian Maher
Music has been part of my life from the very beginning. It’s been in my family for as long as I can remember, beginning with my late Grandfather and most likely his father before him. Each of my family has played an instrument at least once in their life, but my Dad and two eldest brothers have had the most influence on my music. I began taking piano lessons at 8 years old and have been singing for just as long. I would often go with my Dad to church whenever he was asked to perform with the choir. I am currently participating in many instrumental ensembles as well as choirs for school where I am now Captain of St Francis de Sales College’s a Capella choir VoCo. Music has been the most important thing in my life ever since it introduced me to the most amazing, caring, and talented friends I could hope to have. There are honestly no words that can describe how powerful an impact it can have and the bond it can form. I always look forward to new opportunities to improve my musical talent and I have gained nothing but great memories in relation to Mount Barker’s Carols, making me only more excited to be performing with them for a second year.
Charli Schulz
Charli Schulz is an 18-year-old singer and songwriter from the Adelaide Hills. She loves bringing her eclectic blend of indie, pop, music theatre, and jazz around the hills busking and gigging, as well as in her original song writing. Thanks to her fascination and passion for the voice, Charli plans to begin studying speech pathology in 2023. She is excited to be returning to the Carols team for her second year in 2022!
Nathan Sachse
My name is Nathan Sachse. I am 17 and have just completed Year 12 at St Francis de Sales College, Mount Barker. I studied Stage 2 Music at school and have been an active member in most of the choirs and bands on offer at the college for many years leading to being named one of the Senior Music Co-Captains for this year. In this year’s Generations in Jazz online event our choir – ‘JazZone’ placed 3rd in our division amongst many schools from around Australia. Apart from school I also lead a youth band at my local church in which I sing and play guitar. Over the past few years, I have thoroughly enjoyed performing at Mount Barker Carols and would love to continue to be part of this amazing music team!
Tayla Arbon
Tayla loves to sing. She has just finished Year 9 at Cornerstone College and learns singing with Lisa Duffield. She particularly likes musical theatre songs and enjoys singing in her school choir, ‘JIVE’. Tayla has been singing for as long as she can remember and is excited to be part of the Mount Barker Carols and Fireworks performance tonight.
Dakota Moran
Dakota is a 14-year-old singer/songwriter and has just finished Year 9 at Cornerstone College. She has performed in talent shows as well as in her college choir – JIVE and participated in the Umbrella Festival last year singing in the Mt Barker Library. Dakota learns voice from Lisa Duffield, and it is her dream to sing professionally. Dakota is excited to be part of the 2022 Mt Barker Carols team!
The Carols Big Band
The Carols Big Band is made up of players from the Mt Barker Big Band together with selected guest musicians. Rehearsals for this event start in around late August with the band coming together with the singers and other performers during November leading upto the performance. For further information please check out the Mt Barker Big Band Facebook page and the Mt Barker District Concert Band website.