Tuba Christmas concert features songs of the season

Waynesburg’s tuba and euphonium players ushered in the Christmas season this past Friday, Dec. 1, with the annual Tuba Christmas Concert.

The evening performance marked the musical group’s ninth year hosting the popular event, which features music of the Christmas and holiday season. In just under a decade, the original four players jumped to include 24 members and the “audience appeal” increased two-fold, according to Band Director Dr. Ronda DePriest.

Tuba Christmas is more than just a regional tradition in Waynesburg, it’s an international concept that has been celebrated for over 40 years.

Tuba Christmas was created initially by Harvey Phillips as a way to “shine a light on” instruments not “usually the object of other support” and recognition [tuba and euphonium] while bringing together the community through well-known Christmas carols.

Sophomore Kate Ossege, a forensic science major, was given the job of planning and selling a variety of homemade peanut butter cookies, chocolate chip cookies and sugar cookies along with Tuba Christmas merchandise such as knitted hats and scarves and buttons reading sayings such as “Merry Tuba Christmas”.

The money raised from the cookie and merchandise sales will go directly toward funding the Waynesburg University Band’s Relay for Life event.

This year’s participants ranged in all ages, locations and backgrounds, with one player travelling over 150 miles to join the group. Another musician has played in the Waynesburg Tuba Christmas Concert for a total of 26 years.

DePriest began the evening by prepping the audience to sing along to whatever songs they knew.

“Be very loud and enjoy the season. Oh, you are in for a treat,” DePriest said.

The selected songs were all common Christmas carols in order to achieve optimal audience participation. The band would play through one time and then the audience would begin singing during a second time through.

Senior Marla Holland, a psychology major and a music minor, sat second row and was one of many players to dress in Christmas themed attire.

Not only were the musicians sporting Christmas spirit, but they decked their instruments in festive garb as well, which was highlighted about halfway through the concert by arranging an impromptu instrument decoration contest by which the winner was selected by receiving the loudest applause.

There was a tie between a sousaphone with a snowman wreath and a baritone wrapped with a giant ribbon. Both winners received a small gift from DePriest.

The first song played was “O’ Come All Ye Faithful,” to which DePriest congratulated the audience for having such “lovely” voices.

DePriest added that brass instruments, such as tubas, harbor such a “mellow kind of feel, so music pieces that are more introspective are really beautiful”.

For each sing-along carol, DePriest would move between conducting the band and conducting the audience.

Occasionally, DePriest would gesture for the musicians to perform a “tuba applause” or a “tuba bow” for which they all hoisted the shining brass instruments above their heads.

Each tune received unique audience participation. The most involved chorus of the evening was “Jingle Bells,” prompting in-time clapping from the majority of the audience – especially the kids.

After about an hour of light-hearted chorusing, DePriest said, “We’re going to end this evening with a wish. We wish you a merry Christmas.”

As the final notes faded, the audience gave the performers cheers for an encore and a standing ovation.