HOLIDAY EVENTS 'Merry Tubachristmas' set for Saturday at Eastwood

NILES -- It's time once again for the Mahoning Valley's sixth annual "Tubachristmas," to be held at the Eastwood Mall on Saturday with performances at noon and 2 p.m.
"Merry Tubachristmas" is celebrating its 31st anniversary (1974-2004). This year's concerts will be presented in more than 180 cities throughout the United States and in several foreign countries.
The event is sponsored by the Trumbull County Convention & amp; Visitors Bureau, Arby's, lanazone's Pizza, Eastwood Mall and Papa John's Pizza.
The guest conductor is John Veneskey of North Lima, who joined Youngstown State University's Dana School of Music in 1998 as associate director of bands, after 10 years of teaching in public schools.
"Tubachristmas" was created by Harvey Philips, who was inspired to create an annual event honoring his teacher, the late tubist William J. Bell, born Christmas Day, 1902.
Every Christmas season, tuba and euphonium players of all ages gather to pay respect to all the artists and teachers who represent their heritage.
Every "Tubachristmas" performance features traditional Christmas carols arranged for the first "Tubachristmas" (Dec. 22, 1974, in New York City's Rockefeller Plaza) by American composer Alec Wilder, who died Christmas Eve, 1980. Through Wilder, "Tubachristmas" concerts pay tribute to composers who have embraced these instruments with solo and ensemble compositions.