Annual HollyDay Concert, Tree Lighting Put UAMS in Holiday Spirit

By Holland Doran


Linda Thompson


Melisa Clark (wearing Santa hat) gets 12 volunteers to help her sing “The Twelve Days of Christmas.”


Karlene Case


Bruce Rodtnick

Dec. 8, 2014 | The annual HollyDay concert started and ended in much the same way — with the the overflow crowd of UAMS employees joining in to sing along with popular holiday songs.

The event, which has been become a popular holiday tradition at UAMS, featured musical performances by UAMS employees. Following the concert, the lighting of holiday trees in the hospital lobby took place, each lit with lights sold by the UAMS Medical Center Auxiliary with proceeds going to programs supporting UAMS patients and families.

George Hankins-Hull, director of pastoral care and clinical pastoral education training programs at UAMS,
served as master of ceremonies for the event. He mixed
in humor with the
introductions of performers. He also quizzed audience members about favorite holiday entertainment — leading to video clips from “A Christmas Story” and “Merry Christmas Mister Bean.”

UAMS Chancellor Dan Rahn, M.D., kicked off the event at the piano, leading a sing-along of a medley that included verses from “White Christmas,” “Silver Bells” and “Santa Claus is Coming to Town.”

The performances also included:

  • Linda Thompson from Institutional Advancement, accompanied by Sam Wesely of Campus Operations, singing “Mary Did You Know?”
  • Karlene Case, a patient services coordinator in Labor & Delivery, singing “Silver Bells”
  • Bruce Rodtnick of Information Technology, singing “This Little Child”
  • Melisa Clark from the Office of Research Regulatory Affairs (and 12 volunteers drafted from the audience to hold up signs and sing along) on “The Twelve Days of Christmas”

The concert was sponsored by the UAMS Medical Center Auxiliary and organized by the UAMS Arts
Council. The Arts Council includes employees,
volunteers and UAMS supporters seeking to enrich the healing, working and learning environment at UAMS through the visual and performing arts.