UNCW Music Department professor Daniel Johnson directed two performances of the Sixth Annual Tuba Christmas Concerts on Saturday, December 5 at Westfield Independence Mall and Brightmore of Wilmington. The concert featured traditional Christmas carols by the tuba-euphonium ensemble. Adding to the concerts was the guest conductor, New Hanover County Commissioner Jonathan Barfield. In addition, a mayoral proclamation announcing Tuba Christmas Day was delivered by Wilmington Mayor Bill Saffo.
Click HERE to view a segment from the 2009 Tuba Christmas concert filmed by WWAY-TV.
Founded by Dr. Daniel Johnson in 2004, the Wilmington Tuba Ensembles include the Tuba Christmas and Octubafest groups. They perform annually at campus and community functions.
Dr. Johnson Conducts Wilmington's Third Annual Tuba Christmas
December 9, 2006
Dr. Johnson Conducts Wilmington's Second Annual Tuba Christmas
December 17, 2005
The Port City Tubas is a quartet comprised of college and community tuba and euphonium players. Members are: Ben Edwards, euphonium, is the band director at South Brunswick Middle School. He is a graduate of Appalachian State University and a member of the Brunswick community band. Mark Doerffel, euphonium, graduated from Louisiana State University and Appalachian State University. He is now the band director at Laney High School and performs with the Wilmington Symphony Orchestra. Daniel Johnson, tuba, is the tuba and euphonium professor at UNCW and founded the Port City Tubas. He is a graduate of the New England Conservatory of Music and the University of Arizona. Mike Rhoades, tuba, is a graduate of Augustina College and UNC-Wilmington. He performs as a member of the UNCW Wind Symphony.
Previous Performances:
OCTUBAFEST, Octuba 2, 2005, Riverfest in Downtown Wilmington.
In a celebration of fall traditions and local port-city culture, the Port City Tubas annually perform marches, polkas, and other seasonal favorites as part of Wilmington's Riverfest. For more information visit the Riverfest web site.
EVENING OF BRASS, Octuba 13, 2005, Kenan Auditorium.
As part of the semi-annual concerts featuring the brass students and faculty of UNCW, the Port City Tubas perform "Music 4 Tubas" by John Stevens.
The Port City Tuba Quartet in rehearsal.
Audio Examples performed by the Wilmington Tuba Christmas Choir, December 18, 2004:
Dr. Johnson conducts the 2006 Tuba Christmas ensemble.
Players in the 2006 Tuba Christmas ensemble traveled as far as 100 miles to participate.
In seasonal garb, New Hanover County Commissioner Bill Caster guest-conducts the Tuba Christmas ensemble.
Players ranged from age 11 to 76 for the 2006 Tuba Christmas ensemble.
Representing the City of Wilmington, CouncilWoman Pat Delair delivers the city-wide Tuba Christmas proclamation.
One of the youngest players performs as part of the 2006 Tuba Christmas ensemble.
Many players decorated their instruments for the occasion!
Dr. Johnson announced the pieces and introduced the often under-appreciated tuba & euphonium.
Participants ranged in age from 11 to 76 and included middle school, high school, college, and community players.
The Proclamation signed by Mayor Spence Broadhurst on the occasion of the inaugural Wilmington Tuba Christmas: December 18, 2004. At that event, Mayor Broadhurst served as the group's guest conductor and directed the thirty-one euphonium and tuba players in "Good King Wenceslas."
Mayor Broadhurst Reads the Tuba Christmas Proclamation.
Click HERE to view the 2004 Mayoral Proclamation.
Tuba Christmas Rehearsal before the Concerts.
The 2004 Tuba Christmas Ensemble: 31 Players from as far away as Charlotte, NC!
"Jingle Bells"