Just when Lorin Nicholson thought his year was winding down, a telephone call from the Nine TV network changed all that - in a big way.

Last week Lorin was asked to send a copy of his new CD, Only You, which led to an offer the mild-mannered guitarist couldn't refuse.

Lorin has been invited to appear at the Vision Australia Carols by Candlelight® at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl in Melbourne on Christmas Eve and broadcast to the nation on Channel Nine.

He will play alongside Australian Idol runner-up 2005 Anthony Callea, who will lead the singing.

"I was blown away, and when you get to connect with people like John Foreman, who is the musical director of the event, it makes you realise what fine company you're in," Lorin said.

Lorin, who has been legally blind since birth, has retinitis pigmentosa, which means his vision is narrowed or blurred to the stage where he can only distinguish large objects.

He visits schools right around the country, performing his music and speaking to thousands of students about his experiences, and challenging them to accept people who are different in some way.

Vision Australia's Carols by Candlelight, staged annually in Melbourne's Kings Domain Park, attracts an audience of more than 10,000 people.

For the past 69 years, Vision Australia has been the beneficiary of this wonderful event, which has an estimated television viewing audience of 2.5 million people.

Australia's most magical event - Vision Australia's Carols by Candlelight® has been going for the past 69 years. All proceeds from the event support Visio Australia's services for children who are blind or vision impaired.

"I don't know if the people from Vision Australia pulled some strings to get me there, but I'm absolutely delighted to be doing the gig," Lorin said.

"I've had a really hectic year, just coming off the road after seven months travelling around the country and thought I'd get a good break over Christmas, but I don't mind interrupting that in the least for this important event."