The Capitol Christmas Tree, “California Shines” Song Search

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California is an inspiration to many artists, crafters, and musicians. This year, thousands of creative people will have the chance to have their creative work performed or placed on display for all of America to see. By participating in this year’s Capitol Christmas Tree project, people are not only taking part in a proud tradition, they are showing all of America just why “California Shines!”

The Capitol Christmas Tree has been a proud American tradition since 1970. The very first tree was a live Douglas fir that was planted on the White House grounds in 1964, and decorated for Christmas. After the tree was lost to strong winds and root disease four years later, smaller trees were combined to make a suitably tall tree to grace the West Front lawn. In 1970, it was decided that, instead of using smaller trees to assemble a large one, every year’s Christmas tree would be taken from one of the country’s National Forests. Every year, a different state is chosen to provide the tree, with this year’s tree coming from the great state of California.

It isn’t just the tree that the state gets to sends to Washington, D.C., however. Every year, ornaments to decorate that tree (as well as several others in offices all around the capitol) are solicited from that state’s artists, young and old. A child is also chosen to flip the switch that lights the tree, and a competition is held to find the artwork that represents that year’s theme in a permanent gallery in Washington, D.C. Another competition is being held to find ten songs that represent this year’s theme, “California Shines,” to be placed on a CD that will be sold to fund this project. The final, official song will be performed at the tree cutting ceremony in Sonora, California, on November 5^th, as well as during the tree lighting ceremony in Washington, D.C.

This competition is open to all California residents over the age of eighteen. Songs should be completely original material, and recorded on a production-quality compact disc. To submit a song for the contest, participants must mail their CD and completely filled out entry form to USFS by July 12^th, 2011. To be eligible, artists must agree to allow the Forestry Service the right to reproduce their song onto a compilation CD to be sold to raise money. The winning song chosen to be the official song will be performed at both the tree cutting ceremony, and the tree lighting ceremony, with all trip expenses paid.

The cutting, decorating, and lighting of the Capitol Christmas Tree are a tradition spanning decades. With the tree ceremony, handcrafted ornaments, art competition, and song competition, all California residents will have the opportunity to tell the rest of the United States exactly what makes California shine.

The official song will be performed at the “California Shines Tree Cutting Celebration” in Sonora, California on November 5, 2011, AND at the Forest Service Chief’s Reception in Washington, D.C. in early December; expenses paid.

Some thoughts for the song!
• It is the National Christmas Tree that stands in front of the U.S. Capitol Building
• It is known as, “The People’s Tree”
• It is a Gift from the state of California this year
• This year’s theme is “California Shines”
• The tree will likely be a 60 foot California red fir
• The tree is lit by a child from the state and the Speaker of the House of Representatives
• Only your original song
• No more than four minutes long

How to Enter
• Open to all Californians, at least 18 years of age
• Record an original, production quality CD
• Print, complete, and sign the entry form
• Mail entry form and CD to USFS by July 12, 2011

Mail to: Stanislaus National Forest
U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree 2011
19777 Greenley Rd.
Sonora, CA 95370

More info - http://capitolchristmastree2011.org