The holiday season is a time full of tradition. At Keene State College, Tuba Christmas is one tradition that is held in especially high regard by both community members and people of KSC. Sunday, Dec. 3, the tradition continued in the Mabel Brown Room in the L.P. Young Student Center.
Angelique Inchierca / Photo Editor
2017 is the 44th anniversary of Tuba Christmas’ inception, created by Harvey Phillips in 1974, and it is an event that is celebrated both nationwide and internationally. It has been celebrated at KSC for 27 years. This year’s group of tubists and euphonium players consisted of KSC students, alumnus, members of the Nelson town band, even some all the way from New York, according to Dr. Jim Chesebrough, professor of music at KSC, as well as the director for Tuba Christmas. There were quite a few guest conductors during the performance as well.
Chesebrough said Tuba Christmas has “gotten the most notoriety” and has been featured on the NH Chronicle, as well as having been featured in various magazines.
Of the performance, Chesebrough said “Oh it was awesome, it’s always terrific… we have a lot of fun.”
KSC Alumni of 2012, Kristen Morace, took part in the performance, both instrumentally and also by conducting a piece.
Chesebrough was very happy to see Morace coming back as an alum.
“It was so fun,” Morace said. “This is not my first Tuba Christmas, but I haven’t played in Tuba Christmas since I was in college, so it’s my first one back in a while.”
Morace said that the group as a whole only meets once, for about an hour before the performances to rehearse where they go through everything one time, before breaking for lunch, then performing.
“Its really fun to see how much you can improve in just one little hour with people that you’ve never played with before.” Morace said.
Senior Derrick Hegeman has been a part of about six Tuba Christmas concerts.
“It was fun as always,” Hegeman said “It’s the easiest concert, but it’s my favorite concert every year. I mean I get to play Christmas music for an hour, it’s so much fun!”
This was also Hegemans’ first group that he had conducted outside of his conducting class, of which he has been in for the semester
“It was kind of nerve wracking,” Hegeman said “But I mean it was Christmas Music so I knew the songs.”
Interim President, Melinda Treadwell, was a part of the audience for the performance. While this year’s Tuba Christmas was not her first, Treadwell had missed the last two previous Tuba Christmas’, and was excited to be back.
“I love it. Jim and what he does every year is incredible, it’s such a tradition for us.” Treadwell said, “I just love what he does, and the artists he brings together every year, and the students, it’s great.”
Before leaving to be with her family, Treadwell said “His jokes and the way he [Cheseborough] engages with the audience is just perfect. It’s absolutely fabulous and a big part of who we are. Great way to kick off the season!”
“It was fun as always,” Hegeman said. “It’s the easiest concert, but it’s my favorite concert every year. I mean, I get to play Christmas music for an hour, it’s so much fun!”
This was also Hegemans’ first group that he had conducted outside of his conducting class, of which he has been in for the semester. “It was kind of nerve wracking,” Hegeman said. “But I mean it was Christmas Music so I knew the songs.”
Interim President, Melinda Treadwell, was a part of the audience for the performance. While this year’s Tuba Christmas was not her first, Treadwell had missed the last two previous Tuba Christmas’, and was excited to be back. “I love it. Jim and what he does every year is incredible, it’s such a tradition for us,” Treadwell said. “I just love what he does, and the artists he brings together every year, and the students, it’s great.”
Before leaving to be with her family, Treadwell said, “His jokes and the way he [Chesebrough] engages with the audience is just perfect. It’s absolutely fabulous and a big part of who we are. Great way to kick off the season!”
Meridith King can be contacted at mking@kscequinox.com
