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On Saturday December 8th the Oregon Tuba Association held
it's twenty-third Tuba Carol Christmas Concert. If you were not able to attend,
you missed a very good time.
massed ensemble working out the kinks in morning rehearsal
As in years past, an impressive number of tuba, euphonium
and baritone horn players gathered in the morning for rehearsal, with the event
culminating in a splendid free concert in downtown Eugene in the early
afternoon.
This year the Ensemble was honored to feature past OTA
President Jeff Turay as our conductor. Jeff took the assembled group of 50+
musicians through a pleasant yet thorough 2 hour rehearsal,
which was interrupted only once by our preeminent emcee and stand-up comedian,
former OTE tubist John Huenink, who was kind enough to come down from
Portland (just try to stop him) and entertain both the musicians and the
afternoon audience with the same old sure-fire jokes. Actually, I believe I
heard a couple of new ones. Full marks, John.
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Maestro Turay, being
lugubrious |
John Huenink entertaining
during rehearsal |
The oldest horn at the concert was an 1877
"J. Pepper" euphonium owned by Dirk Debroekert. The newest horn was a
tuba made by perennial participant Jim Newell, which he finished four days
earlier. |
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Dirk Debroekert's 1877
euphonium |
Jim Newell's beautiful new
tuba |
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The youngest player was 12 year old Sarah Sohn, the oldest
was 81 year old Al Lang. There was some controversy this year surrounding the
prize for the ugliest horn, as many hideous instruments seem to have been in
attendance. My choice was played by the new tuba instructor at the University of
Oregon Michael Grose, because It gives me a chance to mention this fine
musician, and because I happened to have a photo of his horn. |
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12 year-old Sarah Sohn
played very
well at both rehearsal and concert |
Michael Grose's tone is
beautiful, even if his horn is not |
At 1:00 the concert began. The massed
musicians assembled under an awning set up at the "Park Blocks", 8th
& Oak in Eugene. The host Oregon Tuba Ensemble took up the front row. |
Part of the Ensemble at the
Park Blocks
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Some of the 40+ guest
musicians
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We
were please and honored to have a number of outstanding guests perform with the
ensemble. Former OTE lead euphonium Steve Katz was there, having traveled up
from Oakland California for the concert. Former OTE tubist Drew Gamet came even
further, he is currently teaching music in the Los Angeles school system. John
Huenink, not only hosted the show but added his tuba to the ensemble sound. And
Michael Grose anchored the thirds with his strong and beautiful playing.
The weather was unusually fine, partly sunny
and no rain. A large crowd gathered and seemed to enjoy the music and the jokes
fully. Five minutes after the last note was played, the rain started and would
not let up for the rest of the afternoon.
Thanks again to everyone who made this event
such a success. See you again next year!
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