By Sarah Stortz
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Holiday Tubas, one of the top events for the UI Tuba and Euphonium Ensemble, plays the Old Capitol.
Dressed up as Santa Claus, University of Iowa music Associate Professor John Manning stood in front of the Old Capitol, facing a group carrying hefty brass instruments.
Lifting a candy cane in place of a baton, Manning swung his arms, and the UI Tuba and Euphonium Ensemble began to play.
The sound of brass instruments resounded through the heart of campus, spreading throughout the Pentacrest. An audience of all ages gathered, with children huddling in the corner and adults singing along.
As finals week approaches, Holiday Tubas, an annual brass concert for the holiday season, has been a longstanding tradition on the UI campus. Beginning around the mid-70s, the tradition was passed down to Manning after the suggestion of one of his students.
Manning took up conducting the group after the retirement of the preceding conductor, Robert Yeats. Throughout the years, the line of music consisted of a mix of traditional Christmas songs and tunes from popular culture.
Since then, Manning said, he looks forward to it every winter.
“We usually have 100 people show up,” he said. “It’s really fun for everyone to show up and enjoy the music, even if it’s below freezing. A lot of people know when to come, and new people from the area tend to notice us. A lot of alumni commented to me saying they appreciate the tradition. It’s kind of an initiation to celebrate the end of the semester.”
This year, Manning added in an arrangement of “The Beautiful Day” from the musical *Scrooge* to continue the legacy for one particular alum.
“Eric Larson, a former member of the band, passed away last summer from a heart condition,” Manning said. “After he graduated, he continued coming back year to play in the euphonium. We arranged a new piece in his memory.”
UI alumna Dawn Stephens, who played the tuba during her time at the UI, said she was happy to play with her fellow musicians again.
“What I was most excited about was seeing friends from college and playing with the young kids,” Stephens said. “It’s always nice to see the people still care about it.”
UI alum Greg Young, another tuba player, was additionally excited to play in the ensemble again, especially compared with the conditions he used to perform in.
“I just think it was very successful,” Young said. “Back when we were in college, there was only six people [in the band], and [the temperature] was 12 below 0.”
Pentacrest Museums communications coordinator Liz Crooks said she highly anticipates the concert every year, calling it “a beginning for the Iowa City holidays.”
“Personally, it’s one of my favorite events on campus,” Crooks said. “There’s a appeal to people for all ages, and it’s a great way to relieve stress before finals.”
Aside from music, the event accepted unwrapped toys in donation for “Toys for Tots.” The effort goes toward the Violence Prevention Program, particularly for victims who suddenly need to leave their home and are unable to shop for gifts.
“It makes the holiday a little brighter for those going through that trauma,” Manning said.