This year would have marked the 47th annual ‘Tuba Christmas’ celebration in downtown Victoria’s Market Square, but things have changed slightly since last year.
This event sees dozens of tuba players come together to play some of the season’s most iconic holiday music and Christmas songs.
According to Scott MacInnes, conductor of tubas and organizer of this event, the name was changed to Holiday Tubas this year as the group of tubists cut its ties with American partners.
“Tuba Christmas is run by an American charity, which charged performers to play in Tuba Christmas and then used the money for charitable donations in the States,” said MacInnes.
“With the political climate it seemed like the right time to part ways. So, there was a need for a name change and Holiday Tubas was chosen to be more inclusive.”
MacInnes says that since the decision to change names and reorganize the event, he has spent months creating an entirely new book of music that is more diverse.
“There are the standard Christmas Carols, but we will also be playing some holiday classics and even a Chanukah song,” he continued.
This first annual Holiday Tubas event will take place at Market Square this Saturday, December 13th, at 2 p.m. in Market Square.
In addition to tubas, there will be other horns that stem from the same family tree as tubas, including euphoniums, baritones and potentially some sousaphones and helicons.
All players come together to perform for the public in Market Square after just one rehearsal, which takes place earlier on performance day at UVic’s School of Music.
Holiday Tubas is free-to-attend, but donations are accepted at the event and will go towards the Times Colonist Christmas Fund, rather than supporting American charities.
This beloved, once-a-year show will be around two hours long with a brief intermission.
More information is available online via Holiday Tubas’ website.
First annual Holiday Tubas performance
- Where: Market Square, 560 Johnson Street
- When: Saturday, December 13th at 2 p.m.
