A very merry TubaChristmas at Penn State Behrend December 12, 2009

Erie’s eighth annual TubaChristmas concert will take place on Saturday, December 12, in the McGarvey Commons of the Reed Union Building at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College.

The performance begins at 12:30 p.m. and is free and open to the public. A cookie reception will follow.

As its name implies, TubaChristmas is songs of the season interpreted by a choir of tuba and euphonium performers under guest directors Gary Viebranz, director of instrumental ensembles at Penn State Behrend; Daniel Burdick, associate professor of low brass at Edinboro University of Pennsylvania; Lowell Hepler, director of bands at Allegheny College, and Ronald Stitt, instructor of trombone and euphonium at Allegheny College.

All student, amateur, and professional low-brass musicians are invited to join the performance; rehearsals will be held on site that morning. To register to perform, visit the Web site tubachristmaserie.com or contact Viebranz at 814-898-6289 or [email protected].

TubaChristmas debuted at Rockefeller Center’s ice rink in 1974 as a tribute to the late tuba legend William J. Bell, who was born Christmas Day 1902. The event has since grown to the point that it is held in 200-plus cities each year. TubaChristmas is produced by the Harvey Phillips Foundation; the Erie performance is supported by the Mary Behrend Cultural Fund.

Official Website: http://www.tubachristmaserie.com