TubaChristmas concert provides a low-down holiday

Corpus said the only rehearsal will be on Christmas Eve at 10:30 a.m., following registration at 10 a.m. The performance will be at 1 p.m.

Since this is the first TubaChristmas in Shepherdstown, Corpus isn’t sure how many tuba players will be performing, but “we anticipate middle school, high school, college and professional players both young and old.”


“Players can come from anywhere,” she said. “I know of one tubist who is traveling from Dallas, Texas, and will be participating. We really don’t know who will show up until registration on Christmas Eve.”

Corpus said Kansas City’s TubaChristmas recently attracted more than 600 performing musicians and Juneau, Alaska, had eight musicians.

There is a registration fee of $5, which includes a collectible TubaChristmas 2011 button.

Music in bass and treble clef, arranged by Alec Wilder specifically for TubaChristmas, will be available for purchase at registration, Corpus said. Musicians need to bring their instrument and a music stand.

“All players are welcome and encouraged to decorate their horns for the Christmas season,” she said.

Persons attending the concert can expect to hear many traditional Christmas carols, Corpus said. There also will be audience sing-alongs.

“It’s a great opportunity to ring in Christmas with the warm and rich, organ-like sound of a mass tuba-euphonium choir,” she noted. “One can’t help but smile when they hear Christmas music on the tuba.”

Corpus said the concert is free and open to the public. There will be TubaChristmas hats and scarves available for purchase, which supports the Harvey Phillips Foundation and the promotion of TubaChristmas.


If you go ...        

WHAT: TubaChristmas

WHEN: Register at 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 24; practice begins at 10:30 a.m.; performance at 1 p.m.

WHERE: Practice at St. Peter’s Church social hall. Performance at McMurran Hall at Shepherd University, Shepherdstown, W.Va.

COST: Free for audience; registration fee of $5 to perform, which includes a commemorative pin.

CONTACT: Call 620-339-6330 or email corpus03@comcast.net.


By Ric Dugan/Staff Photographer
Zack Corpus, left, and Keith Alexander will join other tuba players for TubaChristmas, a Christmas Eve performance of holiday music played on instruments in the tuba family.