Kimmel Center Celebrates Holidays with Tuba Christmas Concerts, 12/16; New Year’s Day Celebration, 1/1

The Kimmel Center rings in the holiday season with the return of the annual Tuba Christmas Celebration (Dec. 16), offering double the fun with two performances of up to 100 local tuba players gathering, rehearsing, and performing holiday classics, all in the same day! Details follow below on how local tuba players may join in on the community tradition.

Then, the Kimmel Center rings in the New Year with a free indoor celebration on Tuesday, January 1, 2013 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Parade-enthusiasts can warm up indoors while enjoying Philadelphia’s historical Mummers Parade on Broad Street. The celebration will feature a series of free performances and activities, with festive treats and drinks available from Jose Garces catering.

Visit www.kimmelcenter.org/free for updated information.

TubaChristmas Celebration takes place on the Commonwealth Plaza, Saturday, December 16, 2013 at 1pm and 6pm.

Toot your own horn at the annual TUBACHRISTMAS Celebration in the Kimmel Center's Commonwealth Plaza! The holidays come to life as more than 100 regional tuba, sousaphone and euphonium players join together to perform holiday classics free to the public and for all ages.

This year we'll be hosting two TUBACHRISTMAS Performances in one day. Participation in TUBACHRISTMAS is limited to the first 100 performers per performance. Tuba, euphonium, and sousaphone players interested in playing must RSVP via email to Jay Krush at krushtuba@gmail.com. Please indicate if you plan to register for Concert #1 or Concert #2 in your RSVP email. After 100 responses, players will be placed on a waiting list. There is a $5 registration fee for performers. Music will be for sale at the event, or can be ordered in advance. See TubaChristmas.com for details. Musicians are encouraged to bring their own music stand if possible.

The schedule for performers is as follows:

Concert #1
9am – 10:30 am: Registration in Innovation Studio
10:30am – 12:30 pm: Rehearsal in Innovation Studio
1pm - 2pm: Tuba Christmas Performance in The Commonwealth Plaza

Concert #2
2pm – 3:15pm: Registration in Innovation Studio
3:15pm – 5:15pm: Rehearsal in Innovation Studio
6pm - 7pm: Tuba Christmas Performance in The Commonwealth Plaza

New Year’s Day Celebration
Commonwealth Plaza
Tuesday, January 1, 2013, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The Kimmel Center rings in the New Year with a free indoor 2013 New Year’s Day Celebration on Tuesday, January 1, 2013 from 10am to 6pm. Parade-enthusiasts can warm up indoors while enjoying a bird’s eye view of Philadelphia’s historical Mummers Parade on Broad Street from Tier 2 balcony level, open to the public. The 2013 New Year’s Day Celebration will offer FREE family-friendly performances on The Commonwealth Plaza level, as well as holiday arts and craft activities. Chef Jose Garces' award-winning delectable bites and drinks will be available throughout the duration of the festive celebration.

Kimmel Center, Inc., a charitable, not-for-profit organization, owns, manages, supports and maintains The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, which includes Verizon Hall, Perelman Theater, Innovation Studio and the Merck Arts Education Center. Kimmel Center, Inc. also manages the Academy of Music, owned by the Philadelphia Orchestra Association, and the University of the Arts Merriam Theater. Kimmel Center, Inc.’s mission is to operate a world class performing arts center that engages and serves a broad audience which includes providing arts in education, community outreach and a rich diversity of programming. For additional information, visit kimmelcenter.org.