By Luke Voogt
Shandelle Cook has performed at Geelong Carols by Candlelight for a quarter of century, since her win at a local talent search.
She will celebrate the milestone in style this Christmas Eve, when the carols move to Kardinia Park for the first time in their 52-year history.
“We’re moving up, bigger and better,” she said.
Works at Johnstone Park forced organisers to relocate the event from its traditional home.
But the move to the Cats’ home ground could see thousands more people turn up, according to organisers.
“It would be nice to attract a lot more people than we have at Johnstone Park,” Shandelle said.
“There’s a much bigger space available to an audience. I don’t know if we’ll fill the stadium – that will be nice though.”
Shandelle has performed at the carols since she won the Highton Rotary Star Search in 1993.
This year’s vocal champion, Rosey Wilkens, will continue the 40-year tradition of winners performing by joining Shandelle on stage.
The Geelong High student won the competition’s vocal category in May.
Shandelle, who teaches singing as well as performing and working as a personal trainer, hoped to mentor some of the carols’ young singers.
“It’s a prestigious event for them to appear at,” she said. “There’s always a chance for me to help those artists along.”
Children’s group the Mik Maks, The Voice finalist Michael Stangel and up-and-coming singer Janeva Burrill will join the festivities this year.
“We’ve got such a good line-up this year,” Shandelle said.
“It’s nice to bring some new talent for people to hear – it’s a great little arts community we’ve got here.
Known on-stage as Janeva, the 21-year-old has performed at a handful of major festivals across Australia.
“She’s writing her own music too,” Shandelle said.
About 70 singers from three different choirs will lead the crowd in traditional sing-along carols, she said.
“Being at the stadium, it might have been an attractive thing for them to get involved.”
This year may be might be the first time the carols have moved to Kardinia Park, but it’s not the first time at the stadium for Shandelle.
She performed there earlier this year during an AFL match.
“Apparently I only play stadiums now,” she joked on Monday. “I’ve got a gig there tonight.”
She also recorded a Christmas album recently, in time for the event.
“We’ll be selling it there,” she said. “Hopefully people will use it as a stocking-filler.”
Long-serving carols organiser Noel Hooper expected a bigger crowd this year, thanks to the appeal of the stadium.
Hooper considered the arrangement “a boost for the community”.
“With this year’s carols being held in such an iconic and accessible venue, we hope to get an extra 2000 to 3000 more people come along,” he said.
