Belhaven Singing Christmas Tree: A chorus of tradition

Bettye Quinn, long-time professor of elementary education at Belhaven University, is practically a resident encyclopedia for a Belhaven University tradition that was still a pup when she first laid eyes and ears on it.

The Belhaven Singing Christmas tree that began in 1933 hits its annual holiday note in its 82nd edition Friday and Saturday, 7:30 p.m. in the Belhaven University Athletic Bowl. Quinn's been right there with it, and sometimes in it, since 1937.

She was 2¹/₂ that first time. And now, "I usually tell people I've been at Belhaven 49 years, I've worked at Baptist Hospital (weekends) 59 years, I've been a member of my church (Wells United Methodist) 69 years and I've been on this earth 79 years."

Belhaven's is America's oldest Singing Christmas Tree. Then-music director Mignonne Caldwell had the idea and C.V. McLain built it, and continued to for 20-30 years after that, Quinn said.

E.C. Harpe has been another key figure, she said; he was in the choir as a student, sang as the star soloist his senior year and then went to work in university maintenance. "He helped build that tree many years, but for the last 40, he has done the lights. So, probably nobody is connected with it more than E.C. He knows it from the top to the bottom, because he was the star on top, and now he's down in the pit working the lights."

Only twice over those decades, the Singing Christmas Tree didn't sing outdoors — once, because they couldn't have lights outdoors during World War II, and another time in the 1970s when it rained too much to have the event outside.

Quinn's kind of overview comes with a trove of trivia. At its start, the tree was between the columns at the front of campus, consisting of 60 young women on risers (the school was originally all-female), holding lights that were reflected in the lagoon. "It was just really amazing to me as a child, to see that."

Belhaven became fully co-educational in the 1950s, and that brought an additional serenade to the event — the night before, as male students climbed the risers to croon to women, who'd hang out of the upper-floor dorm windows to enjoy it.

Director Henry T. Ford came in 1962, and thought men should be on the tree, so they made a bigger frame to double the capacity and moved it to the Athletic Bowl.

"That's the first time the could sing 'We Three Kings' because before, we didn't have any men." At first, men had to wear green robes and settle along the structure's base, while women white and sequins. "The next year, he decided to make the whole tree white."

One year, students wanted to toss out paper confetti, to look like snow for "White Christmas." "The next year, they threw out Ivory Flakes and the moisture in the air made them bubble, and we had all these bubbles all over the ground!"

Then, there was the night some years back, when as singers were starting in on "Let It Snow," it actually did. "And it snowed the rest of the concert. Not enough to stop it, but enough to cover the ground. And it was just so lovely," she said. "I just couldn't believe it. I thought I was in a movie!"

Quinn estimated she's sung on the tree 20 times over the years, probably the last time in 1978. "I usually say I've sung on it more than anyone dead or alive," noting many singers participate all four years they're students, and some come back as alums to sing on it. Faculty also can join in.

Singers in white choir robes flesh out a tree-shape on a 35-foot-tall metal and wood structure, their sequined bodices and tinsel head wreaths dresses boosting the twinkle of LED lights that dance to the music. The tree's star, a senior voice major, shines as soloist for the "O Holy Night" climax.

The next riser holds three singers — a riskier spot where Quinn said she always stood, since nobody wanted to lose a student. "Faculty would be easier to replace," she quipped.

The first half is secular, and the second half is all sacred songs. Listen carefully for inside jokes tagging the university president, a history professor and even Quinn, in the first half.

This year, an average of 130 singers will participate. The Belhaven University Concert Choir and the Belhaven University Chorale make up the tree's caroling core, with the rest sign-ups from across the campus. The only requirement is that they attend three different rehearsals to prepare.

"Most people who'd like to participate usually have some singing background of some kind," said Christopher Shelt, coordinator of vocal arts at Belhaven and director of the Singing Christmas Tree. "It's a gift to the community, but it's also a gift to our students, to give them an opportunity to sing carols of the season and enjoy it."

Hot cocoa and cookies from Campbell's Bakery will be for sale by Phi Beta Lambda at the event, with proceeds going to Gateway Rescue Mission.

To contact Sherry Lucas, email slucas@jackson.gannett.com or call (601) 961-7283. Follow @SherryLucas1 on Twitter.

If you go

What: Belhaven Singing Christmas Tree

When: 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday

Where: Belhaven University Athletic Bowl

Cost: Free