Carols, candles and community

The event will feature performances by Echuca Bellas Choir and River Voices, as well as the Echuca Federation Band.

This year, the choirs will be accompanied by David McNicol, an experienced organist and pianist with local connections who grew up in Echuca.

Mr McNicol, who has been playing piano and organ for more than 60 years, said the evening would showcase beloved Christmas favourites.

“We will see a lot of Christmas carols, a lot of the traditional carols that most people will know, like O Come, All Ye Faithful, The First Noel, Silent Night, those types of traditional carols,” he said.

“Some will be performed on the organ, or could be piano, or it could be the band and the organ joining together.

“The choir will be there, they will sing their own things, but there will be a lot of community singing, where everyone gets to sing the hymns as well.”

Mr McNicol emphasised the traditional nature of the event.

“It will be a very traditional type of carolling, which I think a lot of people like at Christmas,” he said.

“The sound in the church is magnificent.

“It should be a really good night.”

The accomplished musician has deep roots in the local area, having attended Echuca Primary School and begun piano lessons at St Joseph's College in Echuca.

“I first started playing the church organ when I was 13 in Melbourne,” Mr McNicol said.

“I grew up in Echuca, then we moved down to Melbourne and my parents were very involved with various music societies and organisations.”

His musical career has included work with Opera Australia as a pianist in Sydney.

Entry to Christmas by Candlelight is free, though donations to community outreach work would be appreciated.

For bookings or further information about the event, contact the Echuca Moama Uniting Church, 115-117 Hare St, Echuca.