What says Christmas better than a whole passel of tubas?
Merry TubaChristmas has shared musical merriment with the Columbus community for more than 40 years. The holiday tradition returns this year with two performances on Monday, Dec. 15 at 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. in Capital University’s Mees Hall Auditorium.
Tony Zilincik, professor of tuba at Capital University, has coordinated Merry TubaChristmas Columbus for 19 years. He recently came to WOSU to perform a seasonal classic with a few of his students—Max Deerwester, Thomas McPommell and Sam Rounds.
The first Merry TubaChristmas took place in December 1974 in the ice rink of New York City’s Rockefeller Plaza, with more than 300 musicians playing holiday songs and carols on tubas, ophecleides, helicons, sousaphones and serpents.
The annual event has now spread to nearly 300 communities the world over.
The late Gary Tirey, former longtime director of bands at Otterbein University, brought TubaChristmas to Columbus in 1982. Hundreds of participants perform each year in Merry TubaChristmas Columbus.
Players at all levels of skill—beginners to professionals—are welcome to join in.
Merry TubaChristmas Columbus takes place Monday, Dec. 15 at 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. in Mees Hall Auditorium, Capital University, Bexley. The event is free to attend.
