AKRON, Ohio — Tucker Jolly has been playing the tuba for most of his life.
His love of the instrument led him to bring Tuba Christmas to the city of Akron.
“The players will play the carol and the audience sings the second time through,” Jolly explained. “It becomes a giant community sing-along.”
The key word is “giant” in describing the performance. The event normally features around 500 people playing the tuba all at once.
In the past, this event was held indoors over a two day period. This year, due to COVID, it’s one day only and it will be hosted outside of the E.J Thomas Preforming Arts Hall at the University of Akron on Saturday at noon.
Since Jolly started Akron’s Tuba Christmas in 80s, it has been a staple in the community.
“I’ve even had people contact me and say ‘we are planning a family reunion, when is Tuba Christmas because we want to make sure we can all go,’ or other people have said ‘I don’t feel like I’ve got into the Christmas spirit until I’ve been to Tuba Christmas,'” he explained. “Those kinds of things keep you going.”
The tuba players sign up for the event and have their one and only rehearsal the same days as the performance.
“Its hard to imagine if you have never seen it, but to imagine four or 500 players playing that, and they do a very good job,” Jolly said.
