Seasonal sounds: Brass instruments star of unique Christmas concert
Paul Bruce plays his tuba Dec. 16 during the annual TubaChristmas concert at the Red Lion Hotel in Kalispell. (Heidi Desch/Daily Inter Lake)
Allen Slater, retired Flathead High School band director, conducts the band Dec. 16 for the TubaChristmas concert at the Red Lion Hotel. (Heidi Desch/Daily Inter Lake)
About 50 musicians played as part of the annual TubaChristmas concert Dec. 16 evening at the Red Lion Hotel in Kalispell. The concert has been taking place for more than 25 years. (Heidi Desch/Daily Inter Lake)
A line of instruments is seen at the TubaChristmas concert Dec.16 at the Red Lion Hotel. (Heidi Desch/Daily Inter Lake)
Ahti Mohala wears a TubaChristmas hat with decorative buttons during the TubaChristmas concert Dec. 16 at the Red Lion Hotel in Kalispell. (Heidi Desch/Daily Inter Lake)
The one-day band performs the TubaChristmas concert at the Red Lion Hotel on Dec. 16. (Heidi Desch/Daily Inter Lake)
TubaChristmas was established in 1974 and a button for the worldwide concert event is released each year. Allen Slater, the organizer of the Kalispell event, displays his collection Dec. 16 at the concert at the Red Lion Hotel. (Heidi Desch/Daily Inter Lake)
A musician plays during the TubaChristmas concert on Dec. 16 at the Red Lion Hotel in Kalispell. (Heidi Desch/Daily Inter Lake)
Music sits on a stand during the TubaChristmas concert on Dec. 16 at the Red Lion Hotel in Kalispell. The band plays familiar holiday tunes during the roughly one-hour concert. (Heidi Desch/Daily Inter Lake)
A musician plays during the TubaChristmas concert on Dec. 16 at the Red Lion Hotel in Kalispell. (Heidi Desch/Daily Inter Lake)
A musician plays during the TubaChristmas concert on Dec. 16 at the Red Lion Hotel in Kalispell. (Heidi Desch/Daily Inter Lake)
A musician smiles in between songs during the TubaChristmas concert on Dec. 16 at the Red Lion Hotel in Kalispell. (Heidi Desch/Daily Inter Lake)
A unique sound of the holiday season was heard by concertgoers on Dec. 16 during the annual gathering known as TubaChristmas in Kalispell.
Musicians played tubas, euphoniums and baritone in a unique roughly one-hour concert performing at the Red Lion Hotel. Allen Slater, retired Flathead High School band director, led a group of about 50 musicians through classics like “Deck the Halls” and “Silent Night.”
It’s a tradition that’s been happening in Kalispell for more than 25 years but nationally has been occurring since 1974. Some of the musicians have played their instruments for decades and others are still relatively new – on this night the youngest was 12 while a more seasoned musician was in his eighth decade.
TubaChristmas events are held throughout the world. The celebration was established in 1974 by Harvey Phillips as a tribute to his teacher and legendary performer William Bell who was born on Christmas Day in 1902.
To be an official event, organizers must register with the nonprofit behind TubaChristmas. Three TubaChristmas events were held in Montana this year. In addition to Kalispell, similar events were held in Missoula and Great Falls.
Allen Slater, retired Flathead High School band director, conducts the band Dec. 16 for the TubaChristmas concert at the Red Lion Hotel. (Heidi Desch/Daily Inter Lake)
About 50 musicians played as part of the annual TubaChristmas concert Dec. 16 evening at the Red Lion Hotel in Kalispell. The concert has been taking place for more than 25 years. (Heidi Desch/Daily Inter Lake)
A line of instruments is seen at the TubaChristmas concert Dec.16 at the Red Lion Hotel. (Heidi Desch/Daily Inter Lake)
Ahti Mohala wears a TubaChristmas hat with decorative buttons during the TubaChristmas concert Dec. 16 at the Red Lion Hotel in Kalispell. (Heidi Desch/Daily Inter Lake)
The one-day band performs the TubaChristmas concert at the Red Lion Hotel on Dec. 16. (Heidi Desch/Daily Inter Lake)
TubaChristmas was established in 1974 and a button for the worldwide concert event is released each year. Allen Slater, the organizer of the Kalispell event, displays his collection Dec. 16 at the concert at the Red Lion Hotel. (Heidi Desch/Daily Inter Lake)
A musician plays during the TubaChristmas concert on Dec. 16 at the Red Lion Hotel in Kalispell. (Heidi Desch/Daily Inter Lake)
Music sits on a stand during the TubaChristmas concert on Dec. 16 at the Red Lion Hotel in Kalispell. The band plays familiar holiday tunes during the roughly one-hour concert. (Heidi Desch/Daily Inter Lake)
A musician plays during the TubaChristmas concert on Dec. 16 at the Red Lion Hotel in Kalispell. (Heidi Desch/Daily Inter Lake)
A musician plays during the TubaChristmas concert on Dec. 16 at the Red Lion Hotel in Kalispell. (Heidi Desch/Daily Inter Lake)
A musician smiles in between songs during the TubaChristmas concert on Dec. 16 at the Red Lion Hotel in Kalispell. (Heidi Desch/Daily Inter Lake)