Tubas steal the show

Fletcher Green, a sophomore from Sacred Heart of Jesus, and Johnpaul Donegan, a junior from St. Paul Parish in Olathe, played 14 songs alongside 438 other tuba musicians at the Kauffman Performing Arts Center. Both started playing the tuba in high school. LEAVEN PHOTO BY KATHRYN WHITE

by Kathy White
Special to The Leaven

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Six tuba and euphonium musicians from St. James Academy in Lenexa traveled to Kauffman Performing Arts Center here to participate in the National Harvey Phillips Tuba Christmas event sponsored by the Kansas City Symphony on Dec. 5.

Parker Nguyen, a senior from Holy Spirit Parish in Overland Park, warms up with the other tuba and euphonium musicians from across the nation. Nguyen has been playing the euphonium for 4 years and also plays the piano, bass drum and other percussion instruments. LEAVEN PHOTO BY KATHRYN WHITE

This year’s Tuba Christmas event boasted 440 tuba and euphonium (a smaller, tenor tuba) players. The youngest musician was 10 years old, and the oldest (Harold Bell) celebrated his 93rd birthday this year! Bell has participated in over 30 Tuba Christmas events.

Decked out in festive plaid pants and a holiday vest, Harold Bell was up front and center during this year’s Tuba Christmas celebration. Bell, 93 years old, has participated in over 30 Tuba Christmases and was the oldest participant this year. LEAVEN PHOTO BY KATHRYN WHITE

The first Tuba Christmas was held in 1974 at the ice rink stage of Rockefeller Center in New York City. It was only five years later that Kansas City, Missouri, hosted its first Tuba Christmas for the Christmas tree lighting at Crown Center. Tuba Christmas has been a Kansas City tradition ever since.

Dr. Helen Harrelson is the director of instrumental music at St. James.

“For the first few years, we didn’t even own a tuba,” recalled Harrelson.

“But as the band numbers increased, we realized we needed to fill out the bass to create a balanced and successful band,” she said.

JJ McKibbin, a sophomore from Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish in Shawnee, wore a festive blinking reindeer nose during the performance. McKibbin has been playing the euphonium for six years. This was his first Tuba Christmas. “My favorite part of Tuba Christmas is seeing so many low brass players in one place,” he said. LEAVEN PHOTO BY KATHRYN WHITE

Now, with six to seven strong tuba musicians, attending an event like Tuba Christmas is a fun and rewarding way to showcase the students’ hard work.

Parker Nguyen from Holy Spirit Parish in Overland Park is a senior at St. James. She participated in the Tuba Christmas event for the first time this year.

“Seeing the sheer number of euphonium and tuba players was my favorite part!” she said.

Joe LeFevre, decked out in a red holiday suit, was the principal conductor of this year’s Tuba Christmas. LeFevre, originally from Kalamazoo, Michigan, used a freshly sharpened pencil to conduct this 440-musician orchestra at Helzberg Hall in Kansas City, Missouri. Conductors typically use a baton, not a pencil. LeFevre did so to honor his mentor, who conducted his orchestras with a pencil. LeFevre has been a member of the Kansas City Symphony since 2018. LEAVEN PHOTO BY KATHRYN WHITE

Over 1,000 people enjoyed the free performance of 14 Christmas carols led by three different conductors. And the festive music was only part of the fun. Musicians and tubas alike were decked out with ribbons, evergreen tinsel and even lights for the occasion.

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