SHAWNEE—The Oklahoma Baptist University (OBU) Division of Music will present the annual Hanging of the Green Christmas event themed “Comfort and Joy” at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 6, in the Recreation and Wellness Center on the OBU campus in Shawnee. Advanced reservations for the event are not required.
The celebration will feature three OBU choirs — The University Chorale, Bisonette Women’s Glee Club, and Bison Glee Club — along with the OBU/Shawnee Community Orchestra. The University Ringers, under the direction of Dr. Patty K. Nelson, chair of the Division of Music and professor of music education, and various instrumental ensembles, under the direction of Dr. Tim Kaiser, associate professor of instrumental music, will provide pre-event music from 6:15 p.m. to 6:55 p.m. Dr. Mark Franklin, the Burton H. Patterson professor of music and assistant professor of music, will provide the prelude and postlude.
The Bison Glee Club, under the direction of Dr. Stephen Sims, the Clair McGavern-Nancy Montgomery professor of music and associate professor of music, will perform “Pat-a-Pan” and “Sing We Now of Christmas.”
The Bisonette Glee Club, directed by Dr. Joshua Chism, associate professor of music, choral and vocal, will perform “Once in Royal David’s City,” “Winter’s Night” and “Ding Dong! Merrily on High.”
The University Chorale, also under the direction of Chism, will present “Brightest and Best,” “In the Bleak Midwinter” and “Joy to the World with “Hallelujah Chorus.”
The OBU/Shawnee Community Orchestra, directed by Dr. Timothy Kaiser, assistant professor of instrumental music, will perform “A Choral Festival” and “Appalachian Carol.”
Hanging of the Green is hosted by the OBU Division of Music and the Office of Student Life. First held in 1937, the annual holiday tradition has been celebrated in various campus locations and moved to Raley Chapel in 1961. The event is currently held in the Recreation and Wellness Center during chapel renovations.
