12th annual Lighting of the Green beats rain, celebrates holiday season
Lacey Klotz |
Jack Frost was nowhere to be found Tuesday night as hundreds of community members gathered in front of the Allen Arena Bell Tower in 73-degree weather to enjoy the 12th annual Lighting of the Green event at Lipscomb University on Nov. 29.
Since 2005, singer-songwriter Amy Grant has hosted the free holiday concert for the Nashville community, bringing with her an impressive line-up of musical friends to help celebrate the holiday season.
“Lighting of the Green has become a beloved tradition in Nashville, and we couldn’t have made that happen without the support and generosity of Amy Grant, who gives of her time and talent to perform and to schedule an exciting slate of artists each year,” said Walt Leaver, vice president for university relations.
Meteorologist Lelan Statom, of Nashville’s CBS-affiliate, kicked-off the event by checking the weather forecast which showed rain just a couple of counties south.
For the past two years in a row, the Lighting of the Green event has been held indoors due to inclement weather, but Statom assured the crowd that this year, that would not be the case.
“We are going to get this baby in rain-free,” said Statom as he welcomed the combined choirs of Lipscomb Academy and University to the stage to perform a series of classical Christmas songs.
Grant also performed two songs throughout the evening including: “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree,” and “Tennessee Christmas.” She also shared a story about the importance of community and thanked attendees for being a part of an event that has meant so much to her throughout the years.
Dave’s Highway, a Mississippi-based trio comprised of siblings Delaney, Zachary and Erika Daves, were the first of Grant’s all-star line-up and performed “Do You Hear What I Hear.” The trio has released three-full length albums and an EP, and is also studying within Lipscomb’s contemporary music program, housed in the College of Entertainment & the Arts.
Singer-songwriter, as well as former American Idol contestant, Cody Fry, was another featured guest and sang “From the Cold” and “It’s Christmas Time Again.”
Making their second debut at Lighting of the Green, Jon and Valerie Guerra noted that this was their first time performing the holiday concert outside. The Chicago-based husband-wife folk duo sang a mash-up of “Just The Way You Look Tonight/I’ll Be Home For Christmas” and “Will I See You At Grandma’s House?” from their 2015 album titled It’s Almost Christmas.
Rounding out the evening’s performances was contemporary Christian music artist, Matt Maher, who sang a new song and the classic “Hark The Herald Angels Sing.”
Past Lighting of the Green performers include: Brenda Lee, Stephen Curtis Chapman, Lennon & Maisy from the hit ABC show “Nashville,” Vince Gill, Danny Gokey, Nicole C. Mullen, Mandisa, Melinda Doolittle, Point of Grace, the Fisk Jubliee Singers, Buddy Greene, Ruth McGinnis and the Annie Moses Band.
During the event, Ella McKelvey, a sophomore contemporary music major from Franklin, Tennessee, was named the recipient of the Amy Grant Endowed Scholarship.
“I am so humbled and encouraged by this honor,” said McKelvey. “There are so many people who are deserving of this award and it means a lot that what I care so much about would be recognized in this way.”
McKelvey, who studied classical piano at Vanderbilt’s Blair School of Music for five years before coming to Lipscomb, is currently interning with Grammy-nominated arranger and composer Carl Marsh, and composed a score to accompany a children’s book her father wrote called “The Wishes of the Fish King.”
McKelvey said she aspires to be like artists such as Bono, Andrew Peterson and Amy Grant who create music to help advocate for others.
“Amy Grant is incredibly generous and kind,” said McKelvey. “She embodies a sense of love when she is performing, and I respect her so much for the way she carries that love through her presence and through her music.”
The Amy Grant Endowed Scholarship is given based on the candidate’s artistic skill, passion for Christ and demonstration of a desire to use those skills for the betterment of people.
McKelvey is the second recipient of this award. Sarah Wood, a senior vocal music major from Pueblo, Colorado, received the inaugural award at last year’s Lighting of the Green event.
President Lowry concluded the evening by thanking Grant for her support in this event for the past 12 years. He also welcomed seniors Sally Larson and Barbara Lee Ball from the women’s cross country team, and sophomore Katie Bradley from the volleyball team to help light the 30-foot university Christmas tree, located in the Allen Arena Mall.
Festivities began during the afternoon with free photos with Santa and shopping at Merry Marketplace, a collection of holiday vendors who donate a portion of their proceeds to benefit scholarships to Lipscomb. Attendees also brought canned food to support Second Harvest.
Sponsors for this year’s event include C.O. Christian & Sons Inc., Ronald Blue & Co., American Paper & Twine, The ARTZ App and Arthur J. Gallagher & Company.
CLICK HERE to view a full photo gallery from the 2016 Lighting of the Green event.
- Photos by Kristi Jones and Erin Turner; video by Josh Shaw