Tuba Christmas

  

On December 10, 13 students from West Orient Middle School and Sam Barlow High School attended the annual Tuba Christmas concert in downtown Portland. 

 

We met at the Gresham City Hall MAX station at 8 a.m. It was quite the sight to see 14 people all dressed up for the holidays hauling tubas, baritones and euphoniums on public transportation! We got off at the stop closest to Lincoln High School where the rehearsal for the day’s performance was taking place.

Once we arrived, we found Mr. N-G from Clear Creek Middle School who was saving seats for the contingent of Gresham-Barlow students that also included his kids and some Gresham High students as well.  Once everyone made a trip to the doughnut table we were able to get everyone situated so they would be able to see and hear the conductor.

By the time the rehearsal started the room was packed with over 200 players ranging in age from 12 to 85 years old. We worked through each of the tunes to be played at the concert over the course of the next two hours.

 

Once rehearsal was finished we packed everyone up and headed to Pioneer Courthouse Square where we reserved our seats for the performance. Mr. N-G volunteered to hold our spots while I took the students to the Pioneer Place food court for lunch. We had a great time telling stories and sharing food and then it was time to head back to the Square.

 

The performance was to begin at 1:30 and by 1 p.m. the steps of the amphitheatre was packed with audience members. It is always amazing to me how many people will stand and sit in the cold, wet December weather to hear Christmas music performed on tubas!!

The concert was great and we won an award for having the most students from a school! We are all looking forward to going again in 2012.