Tubas take over Independence Mall

‘Tis the season Tuba jolly! Dozens of tubas and baritones invaded Independence Mall Saturday for the Sixth Annual Tuba Christmas Concert in Wilmington. Players of all ages from 12 to 74 made up the festive ensemble. Each year the event sets out to get the public in the holiday spirit by treating them to an assortment of holiday tunes and encouraging them to sing along. In a way, it lets the tubas show what they can do. “You know, tuba players and euphonium players, we're musicians too. But a lot of times band directors or orchestra conductors don't realize we can play more than just the harmony parts. We can play more than just the 'oom-pa' 'oom-pa' parts. So it really does give us a chance to shine, and its gives us a chance to show what we can do,” UNCW music professor Daniel Johnson. Tuba Christmas is not the only chance to see and hear low brass players in action. Their music can also be heard in the fall during "Oc-tubafest" and in the spring during "Tuba-zalea."