Fairfield musicians to play at annual TubaChristmas Saturday

Fairfield musicians are planning to be among the performers in Ottumwa?s sixth annual TubaChristmas concert Saturday in the St. John Auditorium on the Indian Hills Community College campus in Ottumwa.

The concert presented by the Lowly Brass tuba/euphonium ensemble of Ottumwa is one of more than 200 similar events that will take place this year around the country and around the world. Any and all area musicians who play the tuba or the baritone/euphonium are invited to participate in the event which will culminate with a free public concert at noon.

Fairfield musicians Ron Prill, Dean Johnson, Doug Carpenter and Dorothy Rowe have already registered to participate in the event, and several area students are expected to play as well.

?Most people don?t give lower brass too much credit for being too musical,? said Johnson, who has played in more than a dozen tuba ensembles across the nation. ?We can play a few tunes too.?

Whether it?s alongside 200 other musicians in Minneapolis, 100 in Los Angeles or 50 in Ottumwa, Johnson said, ?It?s just fun wherever you go.?

Johnson has been playing the tuba 65 years ? since taking up the instrument at Fairfield High School. He enjoys TubaChristmas because it brings low brass players together and provides an opportunity to meet old and new friends.

?All you have to do is show up and play with them,? Johnson said.

Activities will start at 9:30 a.m. with registration for the participants, followed by a 90-minute rehearsal and a break before the concert begins at noon. Johnson said anyone who wants an afternoon of good entertainment should attend the concert, which will feature 15 to 20 Christmas songs.

For the complete article, see the Thursday, Dec. 10, 2009, printed edition of The Fairfield Ledger.