What does it sound like when 65 musicians gather with only velvety smooth tones from Tubas, euphoniums and sousaphones?
Once a year for about an hour “Merry Tuba Christmas” performs free for all who gather to celebrate Christmas with the gusto of the mighty tuba.
“Merry Tuba Christmas” has been a thing since it was started by Harry Phillips in 1974 in New York. Phillips served on the faculty of the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University from 1971 to 1994. Phillips died in 2010 but left a legacy of over 350 Tuba Christmas concert performances each year world-wide. One of those 350 “Merry Tuba Christmas” performances took place at the Circle Centre Mall Artsgarden on Sunday December 15 at 1 P.M.
It has been said “Tuba is an instrument that is easy to play poorly but difficult to play well.”
Merry Tuba Christmas in Indianapolis is generally held on the 2nd Sunday each December according to Jim Williams who served as Master of Ceremonies for the Arts Garden performance.
The “Merry Tuba Christmas” was conducted by well known educator John Hilmer who taught many years at Warren Central.
M.C. Jim Williams said “We appreciate everybody coming out. It’s a wonderful experience for the performers and I hope a wonder experience for the audience.
WILO radio and Boone 102.7 FM and Clinton, Carroll and Boone County Daily News recorded some of the concert for your enjoyment:
