After another year of cancelled gigs and no crowds, singer David Hobson is beyond happy to hit the stage again for Vision Australia’s Carols By Candlelight.
The much-loved Australian tenor is back and ready to belt out crowd favourite ‘O Holy City’ to a packed Sidney Myer Music Bowl.
“It will be one of the big moments that’ll show we’re back,” he said.
“It’ll be a big celebration.”
Last year’s event was the first time the fundraiser was performed to no crowd, which was quite a weird experience, David admits.
“It did have a slightly empty feeling singing to an empty stadium, and it didn’t even feel like a rehearsal,” he said.
“We did our best to try and bring it home.”
Without the live performances and doors shuttered, David moved his focus on a few more pandemic friendly activities like writing and arranging music.
“For our industry we’ve been really decimated,” he said.
“Most of our work has been cancelled and it’s been pretty tough.”
He has been continuing to sing, even if it is to a bored family audience.
“You have to keep using those muscles,” he laughs.
He first appeared at Carols in 1999 and then again in 2005 and since 2009 has only missed the evening once (2019) due to illness.
His commitment to the organisation was recently honoured when he received a Vision Australia Award in 2021.
He has joined the ranks of his Carols colleagues Denis Walter, Sylvie Paladino, Marina Prior with the prestigious honour.
“It’s a privilege and an honour to do Carols, I feel like I should be giving Vision Australia awards,” he said.
Listen to the full interview in the player below (interview starts at 8:10): You can watch David Hobson return to the stage at the Carols by Candelight live broadcast on the Nine Network from 8pm on December 24.
You can donate now online and tickets are also still available to the event in Melbourne.