2. Annual Tuba Christmas
Every year, hundreds of tubists of all ages gather beneath the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree for the Annual Rockefeller Center Tuba Christmas! The gathering fills Rockefeller Plaza with Christmas music played by student, amateur, and professional musicians playing tenor and bass tubas. Musicians are often dressed in festive outfits and even their tubas are decorated!
Hailing from all parts of the country, the band is led by Chris Wilhjelm, conductor of the New Jersey Wind Symphony and former conductor of the famous Goldman Memorial Band. This tuba tradition began at Rockefeller Center in 1974. Tuba virtuoso Harvey Phillips created the event to honor his teacher, the late William J. Bell who was born on Christmas Day in 1902. Since that first concert conducted by Paul LaValle of Band of America fame, the tradition has spread to over 200 cities across the world. Everyone is free to watch the show!
