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The Caroling Competition is an eagerly awaited holiday tradition in the City of Coral Gables since 1987 when the 550 Biltmore Way Building first presented the City with their spectacular poinsettia tree. The event is still hosted by the 550 Building, and it’s current owners, CGI Merchant Group.
Every year, the lions don their Santa hats and Biltmore Way becomes the stage for some of the most amazing musical talent in South Florida. It’s a special way of celebrating the holidays, continuing the tradition of the festive sound of children, caroling in front of the holiday tree. It’s HOLIDAY GLEE! The Competition is a showcase for the extraordinarily talented young people in our community. Today, the music programs in our schools have taken a back seat to other agendas. But nothing can ever stop the music! Such talent can’t be hidden, nor hushed. We celebrate that music, and the children who perform it.
Again for 2024, the Caroling Competition presents 30 Miami-Dade and Broward, middle and senior high, public, private and parochial schools, over 1,500 young people, are competing for $20,000 in cash prizes contributed by local businesses, foundations and municipal organizations. Since its inception, the Caroling Competition has given out nearly $600,000
to help encourage and grow the music programs in our schools. This support is made possible by grants from both Miami Dade Cultural Affairs Council and the Coral Gables Cultural Development Board and a whole host of dedicated sponsors and supporters.
The Caroling Competition takes place over five nights on the steps of 550 Biltmore. Beginning on Wednesday, December 4th, performances run through Sunday afternoon, December 8th. Different schools appear every half hour, each evening. Middle Schools perform on Wednesday and Friday. Senior High performances are on Thursday, Saturday and Sunday afternoon from 3 until 6 pm. Evening performances run from 7 until 10 p.m. Winners return on Tuesday, December 10th to perform their award winning program and collect their prizes. All of the performances are free.
