Greeks get in tune for annual Songfest

The Epsilon Delta chapter of Chi Omega sorority will host its 60th annual Songfest Friday at 6 p.m. at Reed Green Coliseum. The first Songfest was held in 1951 and is the oldest philanthropy event on campus. The event will feature holiday music performed by 18 Greek organizations, along with a performance by the winners from last year, Phi Mu sorority. Admission is free, but donations will be accepted to support the sorority's philanthropic work for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

The Make-A-Wish Foundation grants the wishes of children ages zero to 18 with life-threatening illnesses. These wishes range from trips to Disney World to a shopping spree in Hattiesburg. One of the new traditions for Songfest is having an honorary Make-A-Wish judge the night of the event. This year, the judge will be 15-year-old DeDe Pugh.

As Songfest director, Katherine Currie does everything, from event programming with Reed Green Coliseum to communication with each participating chapter to updating decorations.

"I have wonderful committees and committee directors that have done such a fantastic job helping me with every little detail," Currie said. Her favorite part of the night is singing "Merry Christmas from Chi O" with her chapter.

"It is a long-standing tradition to end the night with that song just before we announce the winners of the competition and the amount of money we'll be donating to Make-A-Wish," Currie said. "This year will be even more special because we will be inviting all Epsilon Delta alumnae to join us in singing it."

Alpha Tau Omega is one of the fraternities that will perform Friday evening. This year is senior and ATO member Brandon Holmes's fourth year to compete in Songfest.

"The best experiences are the practices because everyone is coming up with funny skits," Holmes said. His favorite part is competing.

"We usually place in the competition, so being able to get an award is fun too," Holmes said.

ATO usually holds two or three practices a week a few weeks leading up to the event.

"This year is going to be pretty entertaining, so get ready for a laugh," Holmes said.

Phi Mu will be performing as entertainment since they placed first in last year's competition. Last year, their theme was "Redbox Christmas."

"It included all of the iconic Christmas movies like How the Grinch Stole     Christmas, Elf, Charlie Brown Christmas and many more," said Meg Newman, a junior and member of Phi Mu.

Those who attended last year will remember the iconic Charlie Brown head floating among the crowd. Newman says that a lot of time and work went into the costumes and props.

"Two girls came up with the idea to use paper mache for the three giant heads of Lucy, Charlie and Linus," Newman said. She said that the dancers put just as much effort into making up their dance moves as the singers practicing for their solos.

"We worked hard last year, but it was still a shock when we won," Newman said. She said that all of the chapter had creative performances, so she knows the judges had a hard time deciding the winner.

"We had fun with our performance and tried to make it humorous. Hopefully that showed," Newman said.

Even as special entertainment, Phi Mu is putting in just as much work as all of the other competitors.

"We want to make something that the audience can enjoy," Newman said. She believes that Songfest gives opportunities for singers in each chapter to be noticed. It is a philanthropy in which every fraternity and sorority can shine.

Currie said Songfest is special to Southern Miss as a university tradition.

"Although it's hosted by Chi Omega, it really is a night of Christmas spirit and Greeks uniting for a very special cause," Currie said. "I cannot wait to see what the next sixty years will hold for Songfest."

Everyone is invited attend to Chi Omega's 60th annual Songfest to cheer on the organizations that will be competing as well as to support Chi O and the Make-A-Wish Foundation.