“A King Is Coming To Town” was the theme for the 9th year of the Singing Christmas Tree”.

For the second time the annual event was held at The Lions Centre in George Town at was staged last Sat and Sun (Nov 30 & Dec 1). Previous years it’s been held at the originating church, First Assembly of God. I understood the reason for the move was because of inclement weather that had plagued it some years and the tree has outgrown its roots.

Rev. Elsa Bobb, from First Assembly, has been the Executive Producer for the nine years and starts writing the script and choosing the music form January.

I can see why. It is the most extravagant Christmas production held anywhere on our Islands. Both performances lasted around three hours and it was so good not once was I bored. I was present for both performances. Both nights the Lions Centre was packed and it was FREE with a collection tin passed around.

The performers must number around five hundred and could be even more. Support came from members from many other churches and island wide dancing and musical groups. Ages range from the very young to the more elderly. There is music, dance, singing, and dramatic acting with a story line that is mainly mimed and executed to music.

If that is not enough there were solo singers from abroad plus dancers and musicians.

And, of course the singing tree itself.

A wonderful start to Christmas.

Even H.E. Governor Roper accompanied by Earl La Pierre played a Christmas Carol on the steel pans! It was well worth coming to see and hear that. And, it was VERY good.

From Wikipedia:

Singing Christmas Trees are constructed to hold between 30 and 450 choral singers at one time.^[12] These trees can come in four models ranging in height from 18 to 48 feet (5.5 to 14.6 m) for indoor use and can be custom fit for outdoor use.^[12] They can also come in circular design of 120, 150, or 180 degree models.^[12] Trees can also have seating for choir members with special needs.^[12] They are fitted with artificial fireproof evergreen leaves andChristmas lights in an effort to lessen workload assembly and disassembly.^[12]Besides lighting, they are fitted with controls to allow for usage by a master control within a church sanctuary or community.^[12][13] As an example, the a tree in Huntsville, Alabama, holds 150 singers, is 30 feet (9.1 m) tall (39 feet (12 m) tall if the star at the top of tree is included), consumes 36 kW of electrical power during its performance run on an annual basis, weighs 6,000 pounds (2,700 kg), uses 377 pieces of structural steel that is bolted with over 800 pieces, uses 7500 pieces of artificial greenery, and has over 13,000 lights

Choral composition within the tree ideally would have an equal number of men and women in the tree with the sopranos and/or lighter members at the top of the tree, followed by the altos and tenors in the middle of the tree, and the bass and heavier singers at the bottom of the tree. In reality, they are arranged in six sections.^[15]They are broken down with two sections of sopranos, two sections of altos, a section of tenors, and a section of bass.^[15] Singers who require sitting in a chair or a stool during the performance are located in the bottom two rows of the tree.^[15] Choir members who are acrophobic (fear of heights) are located near the bottom of the tree while claustrophobic (fear of restriction or suffocation) choir members are located at the outside of the tree.^[15] Most choir members stand for the entire time period of the performance.^[15] Male choir members are arranged in the middle of the tree.^[15][16]

Many trees are part of nativity plays or nativity scenes that celebrate the birth of Jesus.*

END

*The one in Cayman goes much further. After the story of the nativity it goes to Christ’s crucifixion, His Resurrection and ends at Heavens Gates.