http://www.tubachristmas.com/whatis.htm

Keene State College TubaChristmas, 229 Main St, Keene, NH (2026)

11/06/2025

Keene State College TubaChristmas Info – Dec. 7, 2025

Greetings friends, and Merry (soon-to-be) TubaChristmas!

My name is John Hart, and I’m the Coordinator and Conductor of the Annual Keene State College TubaChristmas! Now that we are approaching the one month mark for our December 7th event, I wanted to let everyone know the essential information about this year’s 51st Anniversary TubaChristmas Celebration:

The 51st Anniversary TubaChristmas at Keene State College
Sunday, December 7th, 2025
Keene State College
The Student Center, Mabel Brown Room (2nd floor)

Parking: guests can park in the Holloway Lot off of Wi******er Street.
11:00am - Registration
• $15 registration fee for players (cash, card, or check)
11:30am – Rehearsal
12:30pm – Lunch (pizza and gluten-free options, salad, water will be provided, or BYO)
1:00pm – Concert, free and open to the public

Publicity:
PLEASE help us publicize this TubaChristmas event by distributing the flyers anywhere you think will garner attention!

Merchandise, and Parking:
• All performers will need to have towels or moisture collecting pads to empty their water keys.
• At the merchandise table, we’ll have the official books of TubaChristmas music, as well as a number of festive TubaChristmas items (hats, headbands, scarves, tote bags) for sale. Cash, card, and checks all accepted. Credit/debit card payments preferred.
• Customizable Ornaments – Continuing from last year, please customize an ornament or two — write the names of loved ones who’ve passed, your family’s names, or a happy holiday message — and go hang it on the TubaChristmas tree next to the stage. We’ll save your ornaments after the performance and hang them up for you every year or take them with you and hang them at home.

Audience Members:
• We recommend arriving around 12:20 to get the best seats!
• Referring to the attached parking map, attendees and their guests can park in any of the Faculty/Staff, or Commuter lots on campus. We recommend the Holloway, Student Center, or Science Center lots.
• The Sing-Along is back to stay. If you’re feeling a little under the weather, either wear a mask or consider staying home. It’s always standing-room-only, so be mindful of your and others’ health.

Repertoire:
Here are the tunes we most frequently play at our event, marked in bold and with asterisks. Note: these are the "usual suspects," with the approximate metronome markings (written in bpm, beats per minute); we may expand, shorten, or alter the program if necessary:
1. Adeste Fidelis (108)*
3. Deck the Halls (128)*
4. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen (128)*
5. The First Noel (88)*
6. Good King Wenceslas (124)*
7. Go Tell It On The Mountain (120)
8. The Holly and the Ivy (124)*
9. It Came Upon a Midnight Clear (50)*
10. O Little Town of Bethlehem (92)*
11. Silent Night (72)*
13. The Wassail Song (108)
14. Joy To The World (aka, Joy "Tuba" World) (108)*
15. We Three Kings (148)*
17. Angels We Have Heard on High (120)*
19. O Come, O Come Emmanuel (98)
20. Komm, Süsser Tod (46 - very slow!)*
21. Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming (92)*
23. We Wish You a Merry Christmas (128)*
24. O Christmas Tree (80)*
25. Away in a Manger (80)
26. Hark the Herald Angels Sing (112)*
28. Carol of the Bells (136)*
30. Fum, Fum, Fum (half note = 88)
32. O Holy Night (60)*
33. Jingle Bells (120)*

I am really looking forward to seeing lots of you at this year’s Keene State College TubaChristmas. Please invite as many fellow tuba & euphonium (etc.) players to join us as possible. The more the merrier! Each TubaChristmas event I’ve conducted at Keene State has been utterly magical, and it’s an honor to make music with you all again at New England’s second-oldest TubaChristmas!

If you have further questions or have any special needs of which I should be aware, you can reach me anytime at [email protected].

Warmest regards,

John Hart

11/08/2024

Keene State College TubaChristmas Info – Dec. 8, 2024

Greetings friends, and Merry (soon-to-be) TubaChristmas!

My name is John Hart, and I’m the Coordinator and Conductor of the Annual Keene State College TubaChristmas! Now that we are approaching the one month mark for our December 8th event, I wanted to let everyone know the essential information about this year’s 51st Anniversary TubaChristmas Celebration:

The 51st Anniversary TubaChristmas at Keene State College
Sunday, December 8th, 2024
Keene State College
The Student Center, Mabel Brown Room (2nd floor)

Parking: guests can park in any of the Faculty/Staff, or Commuter lots on campus. We recommend the Holloway, Student Center, or Science Center lots.

11:00am - Registration
• $10 registration fee for players (cash, card, or check)
11:30am – Rehearsal
12:30pm – Lunch (pizza and gluten-free options, salad, water will be provided, or BYO)
1:00pm – Concert, free and open to the public

Publicity:
PLEASE help us publicize this TubaChristmas event by distributing the attached flyers anywhere you think will garner attention!

Merchandise, and Parking:
• All performers will need to have towels or moisture collecting pads to empty their water keys.
• At the merchandise table, we’ll have the official books of TubaChristmas music, as well as a number of festive TubaChristmas items (hats, headbands, scarves, tote bags) for sale. Cash, card, and checks all accepted. Judging by last year’s totals, credit/debit card was by far the most popular choice, so we’re happy to keep offering that option.
• Customizable Ornaments – Continuing from last year, please customize an ornament or two — write the names of loved ones who’ve passed, your family’s names, or a happy holiday message — and go hang it on the TubaChristmas tree next to the stage. We’ll save your ornaments after the performance and hang them up for you every year, or take them with you and hang them at home.

Audience Members:
• We recommend arriving around 12:20 to get the best seats!
• Referring to the attached parking map, attendees and their guests can park in any of the Faculty/Staff, or Commuter lots on campus. We recommend the Holloway, Student Center, or Science Center lots.
• The Sing-Along is back to stay. If you’re feeling a little under the weather, either wear a mask or consider staying home. It’s always standing-room-only, so be mindful of your and others’ health.

Repertoire:
Here are the tunes we most frequently play at our event, marked in bold and with asterisks. Note: these are the "usual suspects," with the approximate metronome markings (written in bpm, beats per minute); we may expand, shorten, or alter the program if necessary:
1. Adeste Fidelis (108)*
3. Deck the Halls (128)*
4. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen (128)*
5. The First Noel (88)*
6. Good King Wenceslas (124)*
7. Go Tell It On The Mountain (120)
8. The Holly and the Ivy (124)*
9. It Came Upon a Midnight Clear (50)*
10. O Little Town of Bethlehem (92)*
11. Silent Night (72)*
13. The Wassail Song (108)
14. Joy To The World (aka, Joy "Tuba" World) (108)*
15. We Three Kings (148)*
17. Angels We Have Heard on High (120)*
19. O Come, O Come Emmanuel (98)
20. Komm, Süsser Tod (46 - very slow!)*
21. Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming (92)*
23. We Wish You a Merry Christmas (128)*
24. O Christmas Tree (80)*
25. Away in a Manger (80)
26. Hark the Herald Angels Sing (112)*
28. Carol of the Bells (136)*
30. Fum, Fum, Fum (half note = 88)
32. O Holy Night (60)*
33. Jingle Bells (120)*

I am really looking forward to seeing lots of you at this year’s Keene State College TubaChristmas. Please invite as many fellow tuba & euphonium (etc.) players to join us as possible. The more the merrier! Each TubaChristmas event I’ve conducted at Keene State has been utterly magical, and it’s an honor to make music with you all again at New England’s second-oldest TubaChristmas!

If you have further questions or have any special needs of which I should be aware, you can reach me anytime at [email protected].

Warmest regards,

John Hart

09/09/2024

Registration for the Keene State College High Brass Day will remain open until Friday, September 13th (the day before HBD), but it'd be best to get yourself registered before that! Visit our website: https://dept.keene.edu/music/high-brass-day-2024/
Or just go ahead and register: https://tinyurl.com/mujua6kp

08/30/2024

You haven't registered for Keene State College's High Brass Day, yet? Why not? But also, no problem! The registration deadline has been extended to September 13th. Get registered today!

High Brass Day 2024
September 14th, 2024

Pack your trumpets and horns and join us for a full-day celebration of all things High Brass. This event is an opportunity for trumpet and French horn players of all ages to come and learn from master clinicians. Through workshop sessions, master classes, and instrument-specific tracks, you will learn more about:
· playing technique · how to build good practice habits
· breath and body control · embouchure tips
· new repertoire for your instrument · what to look for when buying a new instrument
…and much more!

Introducing the 2024 Master Clinicians:
Phil Snedecor, trumpet – internationally renowned performer, Professor of Trumpet at the Hartt School, and composer of popular étude books for trumpet, trombone, euphonium, and tuba.
William Purvis – Grammy award winning performer, member of the New York Woodwind Quintet, and Professor of French Horn at Yale University.

In addition to their expert teaching and leadership, our Master Clinicians will perform some of their favorite repertoire, give one-on-one masterclasses (option to sign up for a masterclass on the Registration Page), and lead participants in instrument-specific rehearsals. It’s a privilege to welcome these two phenomenal performers and educators to Keene State College!

Industry Partner – The Music Wagon:
In the market for a new trumpet or horn? While you’re here, be sure to visit our lobby, where The Music Wagon, LLC will have a wide range of world-class trumpets and French horns (and more!) for you to try. Scott Abrahamson, owner and former music educator, will be there to help you select a new dream horn!

Evening Concert:
The day concludes with a performance and celebration of our wonderful high brass instruments in the Redfern Arts Center’s Recital Hall. This performance is open to the public, and participants will join the Master Clinicians and KSC Brass Faculty in an educational and entertaining concert!
Note: the concert is free, but tickets for audience members are required. Contact the Redfern Box Office at (603) 358-2168 to reserve tickets.

Event Registration:
Student (K-12 or collegiate): $40
General: $50
Registration includes snacks, lunch, and dinner!
Note: elementary and middle school students must be accompanied by an adult (at no extra charge if not a participating instrumentalist).

REGISTER HERE: https://dept.keene.edu/music/high-brass-day-2024/

Masterclasses:
A masterclass is a great opportunity for intermediate and advanced players to receive one-on-one instruction on high brass repertoire from one of our Master Clinicians. College students and high school students—are you preparing for auditions for the next phase of your education? Yes? Then a masterclass is perfect for you! During Session 2, all trumpets and French horns will move to their own separate spaces. Masterclass students will receive approximately 20 minutes of one-on-one guidance and instruction from their clinician, with the other participants watching and learning. Taking notes while watching a masterclass is highly recommended—you can learn a lot from observing other peoples’ lessons. Masterclass sessions will also be video recorded and sent to masterclass students following the event.

If you would like to receive a masterclass:
• FIRST: email Dr. John Hart at [email protected] to request a masterclass, as space is limited! First come, first served. Please include the following information in your email request: title and composer of the repertoire you would like to play during your masterclass, plus a PDF of the repertoire. Pianists/pianos will not be used.
• IF ACCEPTED: register for the event and check the option for “Add Master Class with clinician” at checkout.

REGISTER HERE: https://dept.keene.edu/music/high-brass-day-2024/

Tentative Schedule:
8:30–9:30am Check-in, coffee, socializing, exhibits
9:30am Opening remarks
9:40am–12pm Session 1
12pm–2pm Lunch
Try out instruments in our lobby
Campus Tours (leaving from the Dining Commons)
2–4pm Session 2
4–4:15pm Snack Break / Teatime
4:15–6:30pm Session 3 (masterclasses, instrument-specific rehearsals)
6:15–7:15pm Dinner
7:15–7:30pm Warm up & staging
7:30–8:30pm Evening concert

Traveling to Keene State College:
All events will take place on the Keene State College campus and will start in the Redfern Arts Center. Set your GPS for:
Redfern Arts Center
90 Wyman Way
Keene, NH 03435

Details about parking, music to be played, hotel accommodations, dining, and all other information will be emailed to you following confirmation of your registration. Please ensure that emails from [email protected] are on your “safe” list.

We hope to see you on September 14th for the first biennial Keene State College High Brass Day!

REGISTER HERE: https://dept.keene.edu/music/high-brass-day-2024/

08/14/2024

High Brass Day 2024
NEW DATE: September 14th, 2024

The Keene State College Music Department is pleased to invite you to our first-ever biennial High Brass Day!

Building on last year’s wildly successful Low Brass Day, this year is all about trumpet and French horn!

Pack your trumpets and horns and join us for a full-day celebration of all things High Brass. Led by KSC’s own brass faculty (Dr. John Hart, Seelan Manickam, Dr. Kris Danielsen, Paul Hadley) and two world-renowned high brass performers and teachers, this event is an opportunity for trumpet and French horn players of all ages to come and learn from master clinicians. Through workshop sessions, master classes, and instrument-specific tracks, you will learn more about:
· playing technique · how to build good practice habits
· breath and body control · embouchure tips
· new repertoire for your instrument · what to look for when buying a new instrument
…and much more!

Introducing the 2024 Master Clinicians:

Phil Snedecor, trumpet – internationally renowned performer, Professor of Trumpet at the Hartt School, and composer of popular étude books for trumpet, trombone, euphonium, and tuba.

William Purvis – Grammy award winning performer, member of the New York Woodwind Quintet, and Professor of French Horn at Yale University.

In addition to their expert teaching and leadership, our Master Clinicians will perform some of their favorite repertoire, give one-on-one masterclasses (option to sign up for a masterclass on the Registration Page), and lead participants in instrument-specific rehearsals. It’s a privilege to welcome these two phenomenal performers and educators to Keene State College!

Industry Partner – The Music Wagon:
In the market for a new trumpet or horn? While you’re here, be sure to visit our lobby, where The Music Wagon, LLC will have a wide range of world-class trumpets and French horns (and more!) for you to try. Scott Abrahamson, owner and former music educator, will be there to help you select a new dream horn!

Evening Concert:
The day concludes with a large-scale performance and celebration of our wonderful high brass instruments in the Redfern Arts Center’s Main Theater. This performance is open to the public, and participants will join the KSC Brass Ensembles and the Master Clinicians in a massive high-brass ensemble that’s sure to excite, educate, and entertain!
Note: the concert is free, but tickets for audience members are required. Contact the Redfern Box Office at (603) 358-2168 to reserve tickets.

Event Registration:
Student (K-12 or collegiate): $40
General: $50
Registration includes snacks, lunch, and dinner!
Note: elementary and middle school students must be accompanied by an adult (at no extra charge if not a participating instrumentalist).

REGISTER HERE: https://dept.keene.edu/music/high-brass-day-2024/

Masterclasses:
A masterclass is a great opportunity for intermediate and advanced players to receive one-on-one instruction on high brass repertoire from one of our Master Clinicians. College students and high school students—are you preparing for auditions for the next phase of your education? Yes? Then a masterclass is perfect for you! During Session 2, all trumpets and French horns will move to their own separate spaces. Masterclass students will receive approximately 20 minutes of one-on-one guidance and instruction from their clinician, with the other participants watching and learning. Taking notes while watching a masterclass is highly recommended—you can learn a lot from observing other peoples’ lessons. Masterclass sessions will also be video recorded and sent to masterclass students following the event.

If you would like to receive a masterclass:
• FIRST: email Dr. John Hart at [email protected] to request a masterclass, as space is limited! First come, first served. Please include the following information in your email request: title and composer of the repertoire you would like to play during your masterclass, plus a PDF of the repertoire. Pianists/pianos will not be used.
• IF ACCEPTED: register for the event and check the option for “Add Master Class with clinician” at checkout.

REGISTER HERE: https://dept.keene.edu/music/high-brass-day-2024/

Tentative Schedule:
8–9am Check-in, coffee, socializing, exhibits
9am Opening remarks & performances
10am–12pm Session 1
12pm–2pm Lunch
Try out instruments in our lobby
Campus Tours (leaving from the Dining Commons)
2–4pm Session 2
4–4:15pm Snack Break / Teatime
4:15–6:30pm Massed ensemble rehearsal
6:30–7:15pm Dinner
7:15–7:30pm Warm up & staging
7:30–8:30pm Performance with KSC Brass, Master Clinicians, and High Brass Day Ensemble

Traveling to Keene State College:
All events will take place on the Keene State College campus and will start in the Redfern Arts Center. Set your GPS for:
Redfern Arts Center
90 Wyman Way
Keene, NH 03435

Details about parking, music to be played, hotel accommodations, dining, and all other information will be emailed to you following confirmation of your registration. Please ensure that emails from [email protected] are on your “safe” list.
We hope to see you on September 14th for the first biennial Keene State College High Brass Day!

REGISTER HERE: https://dept.keene.edu/music/high-brass-day-2024/

12/03/2023

Today’s the day! If you’re performing in the ensemble, we’ll see you at 11:00am for registration and 11:30am for rehearsal. If you’re attending the concert, doors open around 12:30, and seats fill up quickly! See you soon for a Merry TubaChristmas!

12/06/2021

Keene State College TubaChristmas made the cover of the Keene State College Instagram page! It was a great event all around—our fully masked audience maxed out the capacity of the Mabel Brown Room, and we live-streamed the concert into two other viewing spaces in the Student Center! Special thanks to all of the staff of the Student Center, the KSC Music students who volunteered to help with the event, the audience, and all the performers who followed our robust Covid-mitigation protocols in order to make this concert possible. This is further proof that the music doesn't stop at Keene State College! Thank you all, and Merry TubaChristmas!

12/05/2021

Hello, everyone! Just a reminder that seating in the Mabel Brown Room is limited at today's concert, but never fear! We will have a pair of alternate viewing spaces in the Student Center with a live-stream of the performance. Our student ushers will be happy to es**rt you to the Night Owl Cafe or the Madison Street Lounge in the event there are no more seats in the hall.

Also, if you're viewing from home, you can use this link to view the performance, beginning at 1pm: https://keene.zoom.us/j/83826345906

See you soon!

11/21/2021

Greetings friends, and Merry (almost) TubaChristmas!

Now that we are about two weeks out from our December 5th event, I wanted to remind everyone of the following essential information:

The 48th Annual TubaChristmas at Keene State College
Sunday, December 5th, 2021
The Student Center, Mabel Brown Room (2nd floor)
Parking will be in the Madison Parking Lot off Wi******er Street or the Elliot Lot off Wyman Way
11:00am - Registration
$10 registration fee for players
11:30am – Rehearsal
12:30pm – Lunch (pizza and gluten-free options, salad, water will be provided, or BYO)
1:00pm – Concert, free and open to the public (please help publicize with the attached flyers!)

Covid Protocols, Merchandise, and Parking:
All performers will need to use performance masks (slitted, flapped, zippered, etc.) and remain masked while indoors on campus;
All performers will need to use bell covers on their instruments;
All performers will need to have towels or moisture collecting pads to empty their water keys;
There will be a limited number of brass masks and bell covers in festive colors available for purchase at the merchandise table (priority given to performers who don’t have their own);
Also at the merchandise table, we’ll have the official books of TubaChristmas music, as well as a number of festive TubaChristmas items (hats, headbands, scarves, tote bags) for sale. Checks accepted, cash preferred. For the first time this year, credit/debit payments will also be accepted!
Upon arrival, all performers and audience members should register their vehicle plate #'s with a text message to Parking Services: (603) 209-6929

Audience Members:
The size of the audience in the Mabel Brown Room will be limited by the College’s occupancy guidelines to approximately 100 people.
There will be additional rooms where the audio and video livestream will be set up.
If audience members want to hear the performance in the main performance space, we recommend arriving around 12:20 to get your seats.

Repertoire:
Here are the tunes we most frequently play at our event. Note: since this year we are limited in how long we can play in one stretch due to our Covid protocols (need to allow an air exchange after 50 minutes of playing), we won't be able to get to each and every piece. I've put asterisks next to the ones I think it most likely that we'll play. These are the "usual suspects," with the approximate metronome markings (written in bpm, beats per minute):
1. Adeste Fidelis (108)*
3. Deck the Halls (128)*
4. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen (128)
5. The First Noel (88)*
6. Good King Wenceslas (124)
7. Go Tell It On The Mountain (120)
8. The Holly and the Ivy (124)
9. It Came Upon a Midnight Clear (50)
10. O Little Town of Bethlehem (92)*
11. Silent Night (72)*
13. The Wassail Song (108)
14. Joy To The World (aka, Joy "Tuba" World) (108)*
15. We Three Kings (148)
17. Angels We Have Heard on High (120)*
19. O Come, O Come Emmanuel (98)
20. Komm, Süsser Tod (46 - very slow!)*
21. Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming (92)*
23. We Wish You a Merry Christmas (128)*
24. O Christmas Tree (80)*
25. Away in a Manger (80)
26. Hark the Herald Angels Sing (112)*
28. Carol of the Bells (136)*
30. Fum, Fum, Fum (half note = 88)
32. O Holy Night (60)
33. Jingle Bells (120)*

I am really looking forward to seeing many of you at this year’s Keene State College TubaChristmas. While we’re anticipating a slightly smaller event this year, it will still be utterly magical to make music with you all again! I’d also like to mention that I’m delighted to share the podium with some guest conductors this year: my two predecessors at Keene State College and former TubaChristmas coordinators, Doug Nelson and Jim Chesebrough. Welcome back, Doug and Jim!

If you have further questions or have any special needs of which I should be aware, you can reach me anytime at [email protected].

Warmest regards,

John Hart

Keene State College TubaChristmas

11/06/2025

11/08/2024

09/09/2024

08/30/2024

08/14/2024

12/03/2023

12/06/2021

12/05/2021

11/21/2021

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