Chattanooga Boys Choir presents 50th Singing Christmas Tree

Friday, January 1, 1904

IF YOU GO

• What: Chattanooga Boys Choir 50th Singing Christmas Tree.• When: 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday.• Where: Tivoli Theatre, 709 Broad St.• Admission: $10-$30• Phone: 642-TIXS (8497).

The Chattanooga Boys Choir will mark the golden anniversary of its Singing Christmas Tree with a nod to its past as well as the premiere of a new piece.

The annual holiday production will be presented twice Saturday, Dec. 1, in the Tivoli Theatre.

Director Vic Oakes said choir alumni were polled through Facebook and asked some of their favorite Singing Christmas Tree memories. Those responses included "Frosty the Snowman," "Grandma's Feather Bed," "Do You Hear What I Hear?" and selections from Handel's "Messiah."

Those numbers have been incorporated into this program, as well as two pieces commissioned especially for the Singing Christmas Tree.

"We've had several pieces commissioned for the tree over the years," said Oakes. "We couldn't fit them all in, but we chose 'Still, Still, Still,' the Austrian carol that Russell Robinson wrote for us six years ago.

"For this year's tree, we commissioned another piece. A German Christmas carol, 'Lux Noel: How I Love the Christmas Tree.' This marks the premiere of that work by noted composer Ken Berg."

Oakes said the holiday show will include carols from around the world, representative of the choir's commitment to perform music of many cultures. This commitment has earned the choir opportunities to perform all over the world, including a trip to Cuba in June. According to Oakes, the Chattanooga Boys Choir will be the first youth/children's choir from the United States to visit Cuba in more than 50 years.

Joining the boys for their golden anniversary will be dancers from Ballet Tennessee, which is marking its 25th year of performances at the Singing Christmas Tree, and musicians from the CSO Youth Orchestra.