Free TubaChristmas

2023 marks the 50th year of TUBACHRISTMAS, starting in 1974 in New York City’s Rockefellar Center Ice Rink. It was created to give the tuba and euphonium players a chance to play some beautiful melodies instead of the standard “oompaa, oompaa” they usually have to play in bands and ensembles. The first one was performed in Rockefellar Center in New York, and the event has grown since then to locations all across the country and even some international locations.

As of the writing of this email, there are 236 sanctioned events scheduled for the Christmas season. It is open to area tuba and euphonium players. The music will include a variety of familiar Christmas carols and will also include an invitation for audience sing-a-long on several of them. The concert is free and open to the public. People who have never heard of, or been to a TubaChristmas are pleasantly surprised at how lovely these big beasts can sound.

To celebrate this anniversary, Central Congregational Church in Galesburg is happy to host their performance on at 2 p.m. Saturday, December 9.