Tucson holds its first annual TUBACHRISTMAS
Calling all people ages 5 to 100 who associate with a tuba/euphonium/baritone/sousaphone/ophicleide/helicon/serpent/saxhorn/ Wagner tuba or other long piece of tubing! It's time to join your fellow musicians and toot your horn in celebration of the season!
For the first time in the city of Tucson, low brass players will have an opportunity to participate in TubaChristmas, a nationwide event in which musicians who play bass brass instruments get together and perform in their respective communities.
This year's TubaChristmas will take place at the Foothills Mall with guest conductor Gregg Hanson, director of bands at the University of Arizona.
"I've heard the one in Chicago a number of times," Hanson said. "It's going to be a 'big blast,' literally!"
Tucson's TubaChristmas was started by Steve Kunzer, a music education and tuba performance freshman.
"When I came down here for school, I noticed that we didn't have a TubaChristmas program here," Kunzer said. "I got online and e-mailed the people I needed to and got it rolling."
TubaChristmas began in 1974 to honor Bill Bell, a well-known tuba professor at Indiana University famous for his advances in teaching tuba. A current professor of tuba at Indiana University, Harvey Phillips, started a program in which members of the community could get together and play low brass instruments around Dec. 25 (which happens to be Bell's birthday) to honor Bell.
Since its creation, TubaChristmas has been established in more than 180 cities, Tucson being one of the newest to join. In order to establish the program, Phillips must grant his permission.
Anyone who wishes to participate can attend a rehearsal on the morning of the performance. The music for TubaChristmas is standard around the country. Written by Alec Wilder, it has a special importance to the spirit of TubaChristmas - Wilder died on Christmas Eve.
The group expects between 40 and 75 participants in its initial year. This is Kunzer's fifth TubaChristmas.
"I enjoy doing this to get younger students with older ones," Kunzer said. "I remember playing with professionals, and it was such a good experience."
One of the original goals of TubaChristmas was to give amateur players a chance to perform with professionals, Kelly Thomas, professor of tuba and euphonium and director of athletic bands at UA said.
"For me, it's nice to be around young players to give them pointers and help them out," Thomas said.
TubaChristmas is open to more than just professional and amateur low brass players.
Karin Nolan, a music education junior at UA, said she was invited even though her primary instrument is clarinet.
"They announced it during our brass technique class and invited all of us," Nolan said.
There is a small fee to participate in TubaChristmas. The group charges a $5 fee for registration and a $10 fee for the music, which performers will be allowed to keep. There will also be TubaChristmas memorabilia available for sale, such as beanies, scarves and sweatshirts.
This year's first annual TubaChristmas will take place Saturday starting at 8:30 a.m. in room 170 of the Music building. Rehearsal with guest conductor, Hanson, will run until 11 a.m. The performance will be held at noon at the Foothills Mall, 7325 N. La Cholla Blvd.
