Merry TubaChristmas

About the Artist

MERRY TUBACHRISTMAS! is an annual concert series that was originally conducted by the late Paul Lavalle in New York City's Rockefeller Plaza Ice Rink on Sunday, December 22, 1974. This event, conceived by Harvey Phillips, is a tribute to the late tubist and teacher William J. Bell, born on Christmas Day, 1902. Through Mr. Bell, TUBACHRISTMAS participants honor all great artists and teachers whose legacy has given high performance standards, well structured, pedagogy, professional integrity, personal values, and camaraderie envied by all other instrumentalists.

The traditional Christmas music performed at the first TUBACHRISTMAS was arranged by American composer Alec Wilder who died on December 24, 1980. Mr. Wilder composed many solo and ensemble compositions for tuba and euphonium, and was a loyal supporter of every effort to improve the literature and public image of these instruments.

This year, concerts will be presented in over 200 cities throughout the U.S., and several countries overseas. Since its first performance, TUBACHRISTMAS has attracted hundreds of performers and audiences of all ages. The warm, rich, organ-like sound of this low brass choir has won the ears and hearts of every audience. TUBACHRISTMAS has become an established Christmas tradition in cities throughout the world and this year proudly celebrates its 35th Anniversary.

The Harvey Phillips Foundation, Inc. is a not-for-profit foundation incorporated in the state of New York, dedicated to "developing, expanding, and preserving the music arts."  The Foundation gives special attention to musical instruments not ordinarily recognized.  The Foundation facilitates its goals by providing scholarship assistance to selected established institutions which offer academic and music performance training, by assisting the commission of new compositions and other performing repertoire, creating opportunities for public performances, building public audiences which appreciate and support performances of all musical instruments, presenting public lectures and clinics which impart knowledge and understanding of the urgent and special needs of the music arts and performing musicians, and offering consultant services and public relations expertise to music arts organizations.