The 'Singing Christmas Tree' at Belhaven University turns 90, but has new wrinkles

More than 1,000 guests are expected at Belhaven University in early December for one of the institution’s and the area's most celebrated annual events, the “Singing Christmas Tree.”

Now in its 90th year, the musical event is set for 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 2 and Dec. 3 at the university’s Belhaven Bowl Stadium. If it's not the area's oldest Christmas event, it surely is Jackson's most unusual holiday gathering.

The event features a 40-foot wood and metal tree structure with more than 100 men and women perched on its branches singing. The show will open with a six-minute collage of favorite Christmas tunes including the ever-popular “Feliz Navidad,” first made popular in 1970 by Puerto Rican singer-songwriter José Feliciano. LED lights will change colors in various patterns and sequences with each different musical selection. 

But the 2022 tree will also offer more than just a traditional music and light show.

“Last year we reimagined what the Christmas Tree could be while keeping some of the original elements,” said Dr. Tim Walker, Belhaven’s Director of Choral Arts.

Noting that Belhaven is one of only 35 universities nationwide accredited in all of the arts, Walker said the decision was made to add more theatrical elements to the program, involving both theater and dance students.

During this sequence, the choir will present their rendition of “The Prayer,” a song originally released in the 1990s by Canadian singer Celine Dion and Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli. The duet regained popularity in 2008 when Dion teamed up with Josh Groban for a new live version of the song.

The theatrical elements “add a whole different layer to the performance,” said David Sprayberry, Belhaven’s Director of Public Relations.

Also featured will be a special children’s choir performing “Silent Night.” The choir will be made up of students from St. Andrew's Episcopal School, First Presbyterian Day School, Christ Covenant School, and Madison Ridgeland Academy.

Following the opening melody of songs, the story of the birth of Jesus will be told through costumes and narration. Dance majors will appear from the back of the audience, dressed as angels with beautiful, lighted wings.

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One longstanding tradition that will remain will be the performance of “Oh, Holy Night,” featuring a specially selected soloist. This year’s soloist will be Emma Russell, a junior vocal major who also teaches voice at St. Andrew's.

Hailed as the first "Singing Christmas Tree" in the United States, the idea was originally the brainchild of former Belhaven choral instructor Mignonne Caldwell. In the 1930s it was a tradition for Belhaven’s faculty, students and trustees to gather for an annual dinner before departing for the Christmas holidays. The first singing tree was created as part of a closing program for the 1933 dinner. But Caldwell soon realized the program would appeal to members of the larger community and by 1935 moved the program outdoors with C. V. McLain, a college engineer, building a special platform for the event.

The first mention of the tree in the Clarion Ledger came in 1937 when it was described as Belhaven’s gift to the people of Jackson. “The entire glee club dresses in robes and holding tiny lights will form a giant tree to offer a program of Christmas carols,” the article reported.

After Caldwell’s retirement in 1962, Henry Thomas Ford, Director of the Concert Choir, began directing the tree. Formerly a women’s college, Belhaven had by then become coeducational and Ford felt it was time to add men to the female chorus. A taller tree frame was constructed to accommodate the new male voices, and new selections, including “We Three Kings” were performed for the first time. That first year, men had to wear green robes and settle along the structure's base, while women wore white with sequins. 

The late Bettye Quinn, a former associate professor of Education and Director of Elementary Education at Belhaven, was long recognized as one of the most knowledgeable historians of the event, having attended more than 70 times, many as a performer herself.

“At its start, the tree was between the columns at the front of campus, consisting of 60 young women holding lights that were reflected in the lagoon. It was just really amazing to me as a child to see that.” Quinn told the Clarion Ledger in 2014.

Belhaven graduate E. C. Harpe is another person long associated with the Singing Christmas Tree, having attended for more than 50 years, many times as a volunteer.

“I came to Belhaven as a student in the fall of 1968 and as a music major you were expected to be part of the performance. After that I got to be part of putting it all together,” he said.

Harpe said after all these years the "Singing Christmas Tree" remains one of his favorite annual events. “I think of the performance as being the official kickoff for the Christmas season,” he said. 

Admission is free. Entrance to the campus will be from Peachtree Street but parking is limited, and people are encouraged to arrive about an hour early to avoid potential traffic delays.