College presenting Merry Tuba Christmas for 13th consecutive year

Annual event scheduled for 4 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 2nd, in Alma McDonough Auditorium

Marietta, Ohio (11/27/2017) — Marietta College's Edward E. MacTaggart Department of Music will host its 13th annual Merry Tuba Christmas on Saturday, Dec. 2nd in the Alma McDonough Auditorium.

This event begins with registration at the Band Rehearsal Hall at the corner of Third and Butler streets from 1:00-1:30 p.m. The ensemble will rehearse in the Band Hall and will perform a free public concert beginning at 4:00 p.m.

Area tuba, baritone and euphonium players are invited to participate. Merry Tuba Christmas is free and open to the public.

Merry Tuba Christmas is celebrating its 44th anniversary. Created by Harvey Phillips, Merry Tuba Christmas concerts will be presented in more than 250 cities throughout the United States and in several foreign countries. Phillips was inspired to create Tuba Christmas as an annual event honoring his teacher, the late great tubist, William J. Bell (born Christmas Day, 1902).

Every Christmas season, tuba and euphonium players of all ages, from specific geographic areas, gather to pay respect - through William J. Bell - to all the great artists/teachers who represent their heritage. Every Tuba Christmas performance features traditional Christmas carols specially arranged for the first Tuba Christmas (Dec. 22, 1974) on "The Rink at Rockefeller Center" by American composer Alec Wilder (died Christmas Eve, 1980). Through Wilder, Tuba Christmas concerts pay grateful tribute to composers who have embraced these noble instruments with solo and ensemble compositions.

Depending on the population of any given geographic area, Tuba Christmas ensembles may attract as many as 100 participants aged 8-90 years.

For more information: (740) 376-4696 or marshall.kimball@marietta.edu.

Located in Marietta, Ohio, at the confluence of the Muskingum and Ohio rivers, Marietta College is a four-year liberal arts college. Tracing its roots to the Muskingum Academy begun in 1797, the College was officially chartered in 1835. Today Marietta College serves a body of 1,200 full-time students. The College offers 45 majors and has been listed among Barron's Best Buys in College Education and Peterson's Competitive Colleges, and has been recognized as one of the top regional comprehensive colleges by U.S. News & World Report and The Princeton Review, as well as one of the nation's best by Forbes.com.

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