TubaChristmas Drops Anchor at The Pier in St. Petersburg

The tubas are coming!

As many as 50 tuba players, including professionals, students and hobbyists from around the Tampa Bay area, are descending on The Pier in St. Petersburg for Saturday night's TubaChristmas.

David Manson, trombonist/composer and St. Petersburg College music prof, will conduct the low-brass players on "The First Noel," "The Wassail Song," "Deck the Halls" and other Christmas favorites, arranged by Alec Wilder and Norlan Bewley.

St. Pete's concert, coordinated by Lisa-Marie Leihy, is one of nearly 250 TubaChristmas events around the world, Manson says.

"The event began in 1974 and continues as a tribute to William Bell, the great father of tuba who was born on Christmas Day in 1902," he says. "This year, 248 cities are participating."

The concert is at 7:30 p.m. at the Waterside Courtyard at The Pier, (under a canopy) 800 Second Ave., N.E., in St. Petersburg. Admission is free.

Click here for more info on the worldwide TubaChristmas concerts. St. Petersburg's concert is reportedly one of six TubaChristmas events this year in Florida.