TubaChristmas celebrating 30th anniversary Dec. 19 at Thomas Hall

Hundreds of tubas trimmed with tinsel, garlands and lights will fill the stage of E.J. Thomas Hall at The University of Akron for the 30th anniversary of Akron’s beloved TubaChristmas on Saturday, Dec. 19.

The performances at noon and 2:30 p.m. are free and open to the public as a holiday gift to the community from The University of Akron’s School of Music and E.J. Thomas Hall. Parking is also free. E.J. Thomas Hall is at 198 Hill St., Akron.

Tucker Jolly, founder of Akron’s TubaChristmas and a professor of music at UA, will conduct the holiday carols and sing-alongs. David Baker, interim senior vice president and provost of The University of Akron, will be the guest soloist for the noon performance. David Giffels, author of the acclaimed book “All the Way Home” and a former columnist with the Akron Beacon Journal, is returning to TubaChristmas as a seasoned guest soloist for the 2:30 p.m performance.

In a reversal of roles, Akron's TubaChristmas is free for the audience while the musicians pay a $5 registration fee to participate. Low brass musicians who want to play can register on the day of the performances in the ticket lobby of E.J. Thomas Hall, accessible from the parking deck, between 8:30 and 9:30 a.m. The rehearsal is from 9:30 to 11:30 am.

Tucker Jolly joined The University of Akron’s music faculty in 1980, and began Akron’s own version of TubaChristmas in December that same year. Quickly attracting hundreds of musicians and becoming a popular family tradition, Akron’s TubaChristmas is now among the largest in the country. The first performance was held outside on the Cascade Plaza with 55 musicians. The event moved indoors to Quaker Square for the next three performances, spent the fifth year in the lobby of E.J. Thomas Performing Arts Hall, and expanded to fill the Akron Civic Theatre beginning in 1985. TubaChristmas returned in 2007 to E.J. Thomas Hall, which has a larger stage and more seats to accommodate the performers and audiences.

For more information about performing, contact Tucker Jolly at 330-972-6641 or trjolly@uakron.edu. For audience information contact E.J. Thomas Hall at 330-972-7570 or visit UAEVENTS.com.

Media contact and photos: Cyndee Ramsthaler 330-972-5196 or cyndee@uakron.edu.