O little town of Bethlehem,
How still we see thee lie;
Above thy deep and dreamless sleep
The silent stars go by;
Yet in thy dark street shineth
The everlasting light;
The hopes and fears of all the years
Are met in thee to-night.

For Christ is born of Mary;
And gathered all above,
While mortals sleep the angels keep;
Their watch of wond’ring love.
O morning stars, together
Proclaim the holy birth;
And praises sing to God our
King And peace to men on earth.

O holy Child of Bethlehem,
Descend to us, we pray;
Cast out our sin and enter in,
Be born in us today.
We hear the Christmas angels
The great glad tidings tell;
O come to us, abide with us,
Our Lord Emmanuel.

Have yourself a merry little Christmas
Let your heart be light
Next year all our troubles, will be out of sight

Have yourself a merry little Christmas
Make the Yuletide gay
Next year all our troubles, will be miles away

Once again, as in olden days
Happy golden days of yore
Faithful friends who are dear to us
Will be near to us once more

Someday soon we all will be together
If the fates allow
Until then, we'll have to muddle through somehow

So have yourself a merry little Christmas now.

Hark the herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!
Peace on earth and mercy mild
God and sinners reconciled"
Joyful, all ye nations rise
Join the triumph of the skies
With the angelic host proclaim:
"Christ is born in Bethlehem"
Hark! The herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!"

Christ by highest heav'n adored
Christ the everlasting Lord!
Late in time behold Him come
Offspring of the Virgin’s womb
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see
Hail the incarnate Deity
Pleased as man with man to dwell
Jesus, our Emmanuel
Hark! The herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!"

Hail the heav'n-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Son of Righteousness!
Light and life to all He brings
Ris'n with healing in His wings
Mild He lays His glory by
Born that man no more may die
Born to raise the sons of earth
Born to give them second birth
Hark! The herald angels sing
"Glory to the newborn King!"

Away in a manger, no crib for a bed,
The little Lord Jesus laid down His sweet head.
The stars in the bright sky looked down where
 He lay, The little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay.

The cattle are lowing, the baby awakes,
But little Lord Jesus, no crying He makes,
I love Thee, Lord Jesus. Look down from the sky
And stay by my side until morning is nigh.

Be near me, Lord Jesus; I ask Thee to stay
Close by me for ever and love me I pray.
Bless all the dear children in Thy tender care,
And fit us for heaven to live with Thee there.

You better watch out, you better not cry
Better not pout, I’m telling you why:
Santa Claus is comin’ to town.
He’s making a list and checking it twice,
Gonna find out who’s naughty and nice,
Santa Claus is comin’ to town.

He sees you when you’re sleepin’,
He knows when you’re a-wake,
He knows if you’ve been bad or good,
So be good for goodness sake.
Oh! You better watch out, you better not cry,
Better not pout, I’m telling you why:
Santa Claus is comin’ to town.

Repeat.

Dashing through the snow
In a one-horse open sleigh,
O’er the fields we go
Laughing all the way.
Bells on bob-tail ring
Making spirits bright;
What fun it is to ride and sing
A sleighing song tonight.

Jingle bells! Jingle bells!
Jingle all the way;
Oh, what fun it is to ride
In a one-horse open sleigh.
Jingle bells! Jingle bells!
Jingle all the way;
Oh, what fun it is to ride
In a one-horse open sleigh

Repeat

Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer,
Had a very shiny nose,
And if you ever saw it,
You would even say it glows.
All of the other Reindeer
Used to laugh and call him names;
They never let poor Rudolph
Join in any reindeer games.

Then one foggy Christmas Eve
Santa came to say,
“Rudolph, with your nose so bright,
Won’t you guide my sleigh tonight?”
Then how the Reindeer loved him
As they shouted out with glee,
“Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.
You’ll go down in history.”

Repeat

Once in Royal David’s City
Stood a lowly cattle shed,
Where a mother laid her baby
In a manger for His bed.
Mary was that mother mild;
Jesus Christ her little child.

He came down to earth from heaven,
 Who is God and Lord of all,
And His shelter was a stable
And His cradle was a stall.
With the poor, and mean and lowly,
Lived on earth our Saviour Holy.

He is still our childhood pattern.
Day by day like us He grew.
 He was little, weak and helpless,
Tears and smiles like us He knew;
And He feels for all our sadness,
And He shares in all our gladness.

And our eyes at last shall see Him
Through His own redeeming love;
For that child so dear and gentle
Is our Lord in Heaven above;
And He leads His children on
To the place where He is gone.

The first Noel, the angels did say
Was to certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay;
In fields where they lay keeping their sheep,
On a cold winter’s night that was so deep.

Refrain: Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel; Born is the King of Israel.

They look-ed up, and saw a star
Shining in the east beyond them far;
And to the earth it gave great light,
And so it continued both day and night.

Refrain: Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel; Born is the King of Israel

Then entered in the wise men three,
Full rev’rently upon their knee,
And offered there, in His presence,
Their gold and myrrh and frankincense.

Refrain: Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel; Born is the King of Israel

Then let us all with one accord
Sing praises to our Heavenly Lord
That hath made heav’n and earth of nought
And with His blood mankind hath bought.

Refrain: Noel, Noel, Noel, Noel; Born is the King of Israel

O come all ye faithful,
Joyful and triumphant,
O come ye,
O come ye To Bethlehem.
Come and behold Him
Born the King of Angels.
Refrain: O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord.

Sing, choirs of angels,
Sing in exultation;
Sing, all ye citizens Of Heaven above.
Glory to God,
In the highest.
Refrain: O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord.

Yea, Lord, we greet Thee,
Born this happy morning,
Jesus to Thee be glory giv’n
Word of the Father,
Now in flesh appearing
Refrain: O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
O come, let us adore Him,
Christ the Lord.

Joy to the world, the Lord is come;
Let earth receive her King,
Let ev’ry heart prepare Him room,
And heav’n and nature sing,
And heav’n and nature sing,
And heav’n and heav’n and nature sing.

Joy to the world, the Saviour reigns;
Let men their song employ
While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat, repeat the sounding joy.

He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders, and wonders of His love.

Deck the halls with boughs of holly,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
“Tis the season to be jolly,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
Don we now our gay apparel,
Fala la, lalala, lalala.
Troll the ancient Yule-tide carol,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.

See the blazing Yule before us,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
Strike the harp and join the chorus,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
Follow me in merry measure,
Fala la, lalala, lalala.
While I tell of Yule-tide treasure,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.

Fast away the old year passes,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
Hail the new, ye lads and lasses,
Fa la la la la, la la la la.
Sing we joyous all together,
Fala la, lalala, lalala.
Heedless of the wind and weather,
Fa la la la la, la la la la

We three Kings of Orient are
Bearing gifts we traverse afar,
Field and fountain, moor and mountain.
Following yonder star.
Refrain: O, star of wonder, star of night,
Star with royal beauty bright,
Westward leading still proceeding,
Guide us to Thy perfect light.

Born a King on Bethlehem’s plain;
Gold I bring to crown Him again;
King for ever, ceasing never,
Over us all to reign.
Refrain: O, star of wonder, star of night,
Star with royal beauty bright,
Westward leading still proceeding,
Guide us to Thy perfect light.

Frankincense to offer have I;
Incense owns a Deity nigh.
Prayer and praising all men raising,
Worship Him, God on high.
Refrain: O, star of wonder, star of night,
Star with royal beauty bright,
Westward leading still proceeding,
Guide us to Thy perfect light.

Glorious now behold Him arise;
King and God and Sacrifice;
Alleluia, Alleluia,
Sounds through earth and skies.
Refrain: O, star of wonder, star of night,
Star with royal beauty bright,
Westward leading still proceeding,
Guide us to Thy perfect light.

Silent night! Holy night!
All is calm, all is bright
Round yon Virgin Mother and Child,
Holy Infant, so tender and mild;
Sleep in heavenly peace!
Sleep in heavenly peace!

Silent night! Holy night!
Shepherds quake at the sight.
Glories stream from Heaven afar,
Heavenly hosts sing “Alleluia!”
Christ, the Saviour, is born!
Christ, the Saviour, is born!

Silent night! Holy night!
Son of God, love’s pure light;
Radiant beams from Thy holy face,
With the dawn of redeeming grace;
Jesus, Lord at Thy birth!
Jesus, Lord at Thy birth!

Angels we have heard on high,
Sweetly singing o’er the plains,
And the mountains in reply,
Echo back their joyous strains.
Gloria ..... in excelsis Deo!
Gloria ..... in excelsis Deo!

Shepherds, why this jubilee?
Why your joyous strains prolong?
Say what may the tidings be
Which inspire your heav’nly song?
Gloria ..... in excelsis Deo!
Gloria ..... in excelsis Deo!

Come to Bethlehem and see
Him whose birth the angels sing;
Come, adore on bended knee
Christ the Lord, the new-born King.
Gloria ..... in excelsis Deo!
Gloria ..... in excelsis Deo!

Ding Dong! Merrily on high,
The Christmas bells are ringing,
Ding Dong! Joyously reply,
The angels all are singing.
Gloria….. Hosanna in excelsis!
Gloria….. Hosanna in excelsis!

Ding Dong! Carol all the bells,
Ring out the Christmas story,
Ding Dong! Sound the glad noel,
God’s Son has come in glory.
Gloria….. Hosanna in excelsis!
Gloria….. Hosanna in excelsis!

Praise Him! People far and near,
And join the angels’ singing,
Ding Dong! Ev’ry where we hear,
The Christmas bells a ringing.
Gloria….. Hosanna in excelsis!
Gloria….. Hosanna in excelsis!

Hear them ring this happy morn,
Our God a gift has given,
Ding Dong! Jesus Christ is born,
A precious Child from Heaven.
Gloria….. Hosanna in excelsis!
Gloria….. Hosanna in excelsis!

We wish you a merry Christmas,
We wish you a merry Christmas,
We wish you a merry Christmas
And a happy New Year.

Chorus:
Good tidings we bring to you and your kin;
We wish you a merry Christmas
And a happy New Year.

Now bring us some figgy pudding,
Now bring us some figgy pudding,
Now bring us some figgy pudding
And bring some out here.

Chorus:
Good tidings we bring to you and your kin;
We wish you a merry Christmas
And a happy New Year. 

For we all like figgy pudding,
For we all like figgy pudding,
For we all like figgy pudding,
So bring some out here.

Chorus:
Good tidings we bring to you and your kin;
We wish you a merry Christmas
And a happy New Year.

And we won’t go until we’ve got some,
And we won’t go until we’ve got some,
And we won’t go until we’ve got some,
So bring some out here.

Chorus:
Good tidings we bring to you and your kin;
We wish you a merry Christmas
And a happy New Year.

Josh Arthur is the Host of the Triple M Breakfast Show heard across the Goulburn Valley. His favourite Christmas character is The Grinch and he is NOT a fan of fruit mince pies!"

Sophie Fimmel was born in Shepparton and has always called it home. She has been singing and entertaining the region for many years and has been apart of carols by candlelight for 10 years now. She is a very familiar face in the region and has graced our stage singing with Fortessima and various other roles.She is privileged to be MCing an event she holds so dear to her heart. 

Fortessima is a vocal quartet made up of Artists from right here in the GV. Formed more than 10 years ago, in response to their love, passion and desire for quality, unique live music, the girls knew they had something very special. With their stunning four part harmonies, Fortessima’s sound has been described as “breathtaking” and “magical.” The girls hope to see their music continue to draw people together and inspire others to follow their dreams and do what makes them happy.

This year comprising of Emma-Jane Law, Jamie-Lea, Hannah McGee, Asten McKenzie and accompanied by, Mitchell Allen, Gabe Chowanetz and Nathan Symes, this will be Fortessima’s 8th year performing at Shepparton Carols and they’re honoured to grace the stage once again. 

Raiyan is a 17 year old singer and guitarist from Numurkah, Victoria who specialises in a variety of genres all the way from soft, soulful acoustic country to fast, powerful metal.

"It’s an absolute dream for to be able to play at this year’s Carols, so hopefully you have as much fun listening as I’ll have playing for you all."

Aaron Wallace is a proud Yorta Yorta and Wiradjuri man who is a seasoned and well known singer in various circles. Aaron’s passion is to use his voice to inspire and bless others. Aaron is a Tatura local, a family man and a huge advocate for disadvantaged families as seen in his state-wide work as a social worker. He is proud to be representing his family and community no matter what platform he performs on.

Renée Rankin teaches Performing Arts at St Augustine’s College,Kyabram and is a private singing teacher. She has been performing with various community groups in and around the GV for many years

Awaken Dance Theatre Company are entering their 7th year producing new and innovative dance theatre works right here in Shepparton. Awaken are a local not-for-profit group, who provide collaborative dance performance opportunities for Goulburn Valley regional youth from ages 12-20 years under the creative direction of Kyla McGregor. A highlight this year for Awaken was being invited to open as the curtain raiser for The Australian Ballet during their Regional tour. Awaken Dance Theatre Company are excited to be a part of Carols by Candlelight for the second year and are also looking forward to begin creating their newest upcoming project work, titled "Dance Interactive", which will be performed in April 2024 as a part of the Shepparton Festival.

Kaz, Lisa and Mel cemented their friendship earlier this year whilst being a part of STAG’s ‘It Takes Two’ season. They share a range of experiences including musical theatre as well as Lisa and Kaz being seasoned professional performers in the GV and beyond. They enjoy singing and harmonising together and are thrilled to be a part of Shepparton Carols this year.

Kathleen has performed wherever she goes - from backstage, chorus, stage management and cameos in various Albury theatre shows to starting a children's theatre program in remote NT! She has most recently been a performer in the Shepparton Theatre Arts Group shows 'It Takes Two' as a host and sang in the Christmas in July concert. Kathleen is also a music teacher in five different local schools! 

Tina Pellegrino blessed with the opportunity to sing in the Goulburn Valley since her primary school days at Harston. Performing in Tatura, Toolamba, Mooroopna and Shepparton over the years at many community celebrations, Tina is a proud participant of the music ministry at St Brendan’s Catholic Church. Singing Peace and Love to you all!

Stefania hails from Italy. She has been singing and performing since she was little. She moved to Shepparton in 2017 and joined the local choir. In 2018, she became a member of the Shepparton Theatre Arts Group and has since taken part in many of their productions, including Dookie The Musical and The Drowsy Chaperone. Her work with STAG has granted her acknowledgements both from The Georgy Awards and the Music Theatre Guild of Victoria. You can find Stefania performing at local events and venues. 

Sean is delighted to return to Carols after a few years break. Sean is often seen in Musical Theatre all throughout the region. This year he received 3 Georgy nominations for his roles as Shrek in EMTC and Warbucks in Annie with SPW. He loves Christmas and the joy it brings.  

Josh’s love of the stage started at mini Mystros when he was 2! Now 13, He has performed in 3 EMTC productions and is a performing arts, vocal, dance, piano and Vocal Comp student at Dillmac Entertainment in Echuca which he absolutely loves. 

Creating Drama is a local performance and Drama Group for adults with a Disability. Creating Drama believes in Access to the Arts for all abilities and is led by Helen Janke.

Stephanie Durden has over 20 years’ experience in the music and performance industry, having been trained by a number of different leading vocalists and performance teachers along the way. Throughout her journey as a musician, she has had the privilege of showcasing her talent interstate and around the world. Steph is extremely excited to be performing at this year's Shepparton Carols by Candlelight. 

The Shepparton-grown dynamic quartet, MISTYKID is making a comeback for Recover Together. Comprised of the vocal power-house Emilie Harrison, Tom Nethersole, known for his appearance on Australian Idol and single “Build a Bear”, and the biological siblings; up and coming pop princess Angela Baxter, and Robert Baxter, fresh off playing Midsumma and Moomba. Originally formed in 2021 lockdown, MISTYKID has gained attention for their fully self-directed music video covers, leading them to be chosen to perform at The Push All Ages Tour last year. Ultimately, MISTYKID are keen to perform on their home turf for Carols By Candlelight 2023! 

Rose has been singing since she was two years old and is hoping to pursue a musical theatre career in her future. Having done lessons at Dillmac Entertainment for 15 years, she enjoys the stage and performing for an audience.

Izayiah Ryan is a 16 year old who loves anything automotive, racing, cars, and mechanics. Music is also a very important and big part of his life. He has been at Dillmac Entertainment for 14 Years now and loves growing his skills and performing with them.

Well-known staple of the Goulburn Valley Theatre and music scene, Nicky is m a life member of STAG and also a multiple Georgie award winner. She has performed year after year at Shepparton Carols and every time blows us away with her incredible talent and stage presence.

The Greater Shepparton Combined Churches Band is a small representation of our region’s diverse range of Christian churches. Coming together for Carols, this group unites musicians and singers (and a couple of ministers) from at least 7 local churches.

Ray has been singing since the age of 6. Influenced by a very talented Mum he had singing & piano lessons from a young age when his passion for music began.

At the age of 18 Ray moved to Melbourne to study, whilst there, Ray performed regularly at university functions and private events, as part of a duo and also a full band that entertained playing covers and original music.

Ray moved to Shepparton in 2007 and now has a wonderful wife Alison and 3 beautiful kids , Bella, Zac & Evie.

Ray works locally and musically you will find him performing with acoustic guitar in hand, at various local venues, weddings, and private functions. 

Hailing from Nathalia, the charismatic sibling duo Jessica & Toby share a passion for the universal language of music. Infusing their unique acoustic stylings, heartfelt harmonies, and warmth into every song, they create a feel-good experience for all who listen. 

Monga Mukasa is a Shepparton local who loves to share his love for music with everyone despite where they come from. Nowadays Monga's main goal is to transfer his musical talent to other young people around Shepparton and beyond. 

GV Pipes & Drums practice at The Hub in Mooroopna and are committed to fostering the cultural and musical art of piping and drumming and would welcome new members. Contact Sec. Eileen on 0420 350 216

Shepparton Concert Band, previously known as Shepparton Brass and Wind, are made up of talented local musicians, with a common interest in sharing their music with our local community and afar. They serve the community at ANZAC Day & Australia Day celebrations and have been a huge part of Shepparton Carols for many years. They’re always happy to accept new members, and you can find them through Google or Facebook.

An experienced performer who has been out of the public spotlight for more than a decade to focus on career and raising a young family. Prior to that break had performed at many weddings, pubs and clubs across the GV. Despite being a resident in Shepparton for over 15 years this will be the very first time he has performed at the Shepparton Carols by Candlelight event.