E.J. Thomas Performing Arts Hall will be filled with the sound of oom-pah-pah for this year’s 43rd TubaChristmas concert on Saturday, Dec. 23, at noon. The event is free and open to the public and marks the 50th anniversary year for the concerts worldwide.

The stage will be full of musicians of all ages and experience levels playing tubas and instruments in the tuba family, such as euphoniums and baritone horns. But they won’t be just ordinary-looking instruments – they’ll be decked out in the holiday spirit with wrapping paper, Christmas lights and other decorations. 

Headshot image of Christopher Blaha in a grey suit jacket with a white collared shirt and blue patterned tie, holding a tuba.
Christopher J. Blaha is an associate professor of tuba and euphonium at the University of Akron. (Courtesy of Christopher Blaha)

Christmas carols will be the heart of the show, as the performers on stage will play through each  carol a first time and audience members will sing along the second time.

“Audience members are encouraged to bring jingle bells of all shapes and sizes to ring along while the playing and the singing is going on,” said Christopher Blaha, guest conductor of TubaChristmas and associate professor of tuba and euphonium at the University of Akron. “So it’s about as family-friendly as an event can possibly get.”

Blaha joined the Akron concert in 2014 when he joined the university’s faculty, but has participated in other TubaChristmas events since 1992.

“My personal favorite thing is seeing my former students come back,” Blaha said. “At this point, some of the first students that I had have been out of school nine or 10 years and they’re now married with children and careers, and to have the opportunity to catch up with them is something that I always get really excited about.”

Doors to the event open at 11:30 a.m. the day of the concert There will only be one show this year – past years featured two – so arrive early to get your seat.

“It’s just about celebrating holiday music and community and this semi-unusual instrument family,” Blaha said.

The TubaChristmas concert was conceptualized in 1974 by Harvey Phillips and was intended as a tribute to Phillips’ teacher and mentor, William J. Bell. Paul Lavalle conducted the first-ever TubaChristmas concert on Sunday, Dec. 22, 1974, in New York City’s Rockefeller Plaza Ice Rink. 

WHAT: 2023 TubaChristmas concert
WHERE: E.J. Thomas Hall, University of Akron; 198 Hill St., Akron, OH 44325
WHEN: Saturday, Dec. 23, 2023, 12 p.m. (doors open at 11:30 a.m.)
COST: Free

Multimedia reporter/producer (she/her)
Kassi Filkins strives to be an active part of whatever community she finds herself in and joins Signal Akron in its mission to bring accessible and community-focused news to all Akronites.

Kassi was born and raised in Central Ohio and is a photojournalism graduate of Kent State University. She was a staff member at the Southeast Missourian and the Hartford Courant before working in non-profit communications.

Kassi lives in Highland Square and enjoys local coffee shops, walking along trails in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park and hanging out with her dogs, cat and husband.