Merry TubaChristmas!
Fifth annual holiday brass celebration is Saturday, December 2
For the fifth year, Penn State Behrend offers the perfect antidote to treacley, tinkling holiday hot air: Christmas carols performed with the collective power of over 100 student, amateur, and professional tuba and euphonium players.
It’s called TubaChristmas, and it will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2, in the McGarvey Commons of the Reed Union Building. Even better, it is free and open to the public.
TubaChristmas debuted at Rockefeller Center’s ice rink in 1974 as a tribute to the late tuba legend William J. Bell, who was born Christmas Day 1902. The event has since grown to the point that it is held in 200-plus cities each year.
TubaChristmas repertoire includes traditional carols and songs of the season. UnderCurrents, Erie’s professional tuba/euphonium quartet, also will perform.
All area tuba, baritone, and euphonium players are invited to participate in TubaChristmas. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. that day, and rehearsal at 9:30. For more information, visit www.personal.psu.edu/gav3/tubachristmas or contact Gary Viebranz, director of instrumental ensembles at Penn State Behrend, at 814-898-6289.
TubaChristmas is produced by the Harvey Phillips Foundation and supported by the Mary Behrend Cultural Fund and UnderCurrents.