Boys Choir presents 55th Singing Christmas Tree

Chatta n o o ga B oys Choir’s holiday tradition, The Singing Christmas Tree, returns for its 55th annual production this weekend. But their performances will focus attention on efforts to build a new Children’s Hospital at Erlanger as much as is does on the talent of the choristers.

“Miracle on Third Street” will be presented in two afternoon shows on Saturday, Dec. 2, at the Tivoli Theatre. Members of Ballet Tennessee, the Metropolitan Bells and Chattanooga Symphony & Opera Youth Orchestra will join the boys for a program of more than two dozen traditional carols and favorite Christmas songs to put everyone in a festive mood.

CBC director Vic Oakes says this year’s theme was chosen as part of a yearlong partnership between the CBC and Erlanger.

“The ‘Miracle on Third Street’ is an allusion to the new hospital being built on the corner of Third and Palmetto streets. The partnership between the CBC and Erlanger has included the choir performing at the hospital groundbreaking in June and the CBC recording an album of lullabies that will be given to parents of all the new babies born at Erlanger in 2018,” says Oakes

During Saturday’s performances, members of the Erlanger community will join the choir onstage to perform “Believe,” which happens to not only be a favorite holiday tune of the choir but the theme of the hospital’s building campaign.

Among those representing Erlanger will be Miracle Kids ( former patients at Children’s Hospital), doctors, nurses, therapists and staff. The stage backdrop will be a Chattanooga cityscape highlighted by a rendering of the new hospital.

After the CSO Youth Orchestra’s opening prelude, the CBC will sing “O Come, All Ye Faithful,” “Laudamus Te,” and “A La Puerta del Ceilo” before Ballet Tennessee performs. One of Ballet Tennessee’s performances will be to the Justin Bieber rendition of “Little Drummer Boy.”

As is t radition, t he first act will close with a Nativity presented by the choir’s youngest singers in the training choirs.

The second half will open with “We Need a Little Christmas,” “Hanukkah, Shalom” and “Jinglin’ Bells” before the Metropolitan Bells and Ballet Tennessee return to the stage. All performers will join the choir for the finale of “Believe.”

For more information: 423-757-5580.

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO The Singing Christmas Tree includes Chattanooga Boys Choir members singing from the tiers of a metal tree frame, youngest choir members presenting a Nativity and the older choristers, the Cantabile Choir.