December 21, 2001

Tree & Symphony
by Dan Aquilante

Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without the elves of St Cecilia Chorus – antlers at the ready – singing their hearts out.

WHAT is the sound of one tree singing? At the South Street Seaport every weekend through New Year's Eve, it's the reverberation of Christmas joy.

If you've never seen or heard the famed St Cecilia Chorus Tree, here's the setup: 40 members of the 150 strong chorus dress up like elves and turn themselves into a 42-foot-high, human tree at the Seaport.

The Seaport holiday tradition – which has featured the famed St Cecilia Chorus for the past 13 years – is one of those quirky notions that would be ridiculous if it weren't so good.

The man who has led this chorus for 35 years is David Randolph, the 87-year-old conductor who also wears an elf costume and climbs the tree every year – just because.

"I climb to the top, just to remind myself how high it is," he says. "Let me tell you, it's amazingly high."

The chorus was formed in 1906, when it got the halo-inspired name, even though it's not affiliated with a church.

"Back then, it was the custom to call choruses after Saint Cecilia," says Randolph. "Now, we're stuck with the name."

You can catch the singing tree tonight at 6:30 and 7:30 or tomorrow and Sunday at 3 and 4 p.m. The hours are the same next weekend – and it's all free for the listening.

Post: The St Cecilia Chorus has a sterling reputation as a premier chorus. It seems a little wacky that the group is also the singing Christmas tree at the South Street Seaport.

Randolph: Wacky, indeed. For the past 41 years, I've been on the podium at Carnegie Hall as many as five times a year, so it might seem wacky to see me in an elf costume, conducting the singing.

Post: No tux? No tails?

Randolph: No tails, but when we do "Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer," we all put on big red noses and antlers.

Post: You have a very dignified group…

Randolph: Yes, they're all professionals. We have teachers, doctors, lawyers – all people of position. But they all get in the spirit and totally give themselves to the performance.

Post: Besides being willing to sing in a tree and wear antlers, what else does it take to sing for the St Cecilia Chorus?

Randolph: It's really simple: You have to pass the audition and be able to read music.

Post: That's it?

Randolph: That's it – a pleasing voice and an ability to read music vocally. We let them know about our duties at the Seaport, but we don't mention the antlers.

Post: What are the other challenges for the singers?

Randolph: When you're on the tree, you're outside and there are no walls, so the sound isn't reflected. It's as if you're singing by yourself rather than with a group. That's why they have to watch the conductor.

Post: Are the naughty or the nice singers sent to the top of the tree?

Randolph: The singers at the top are there by choice. We have members who want to be closer to the ground and others who want the top.

Post: When they are up there, do they get strapped onto a limb or a branch?

Randolph: No, but we do tell everyone to wear rubber-soled shoes and to hold on. Thankfully, no one has ever tripped or fallen. We go up the tree slowly and come down slowly.

Post: You run a safe tree. Any excitement over the years?

Randolph: A couple of years ago, a young man asked permission to come on stage with his girlfriend, and he proposed to her at the foot of the tree. She was totally surprised and accepted the proposal. Everyone – audience and tree – applauded. That was outstanding!

Post: Trees in New York put up with a lot. How about your tree?

Randolph: We've had a few problems with jet noise, car alarms, sirens, off-key drunks and dogs barking.

Post: Any other problems with dogs? They usually like a good tree.

Randolph: No, no, just barking. One time, a dog wouldn't stop, so I started conducting in the rhythm of his bark.