Last time at the mall

Low-brass instruments got to shine Saturday at the annual Merry TubaChristmas show, which was likely the last to be held at the Oak Park Mall.

The fifth TubaChristmas performance brought 48 tuba, sousaphone, euphonium and baritone players to Austin’s mall for a chance to take center stage.

“I think the most important thing is that it gives low brass players an opportunity to be featured and showcased,” said Austin High School band director Brad Mariska, who was one of the directors.

Saturday was likely the last year TubaChristmas will be at Oak Park Mall, as much of it will likely be demolished and renovated over the next few years after the city of Austin and the Austin Port Authority announced a $3.2 million plan to purchase the site in October.

However, organizers have said the event will return next year.

Saturday’s low-brass ensemble played about 12 Christmas carols and asked the audience to sing along on several, including “Jingle Bells,” “The First Noel,” and “Deck the Halls.” Mariska jumped to his place at the directors stand and had a large smile as he directed the band in the short carols.

“It’s one of those things that really exemplifies the Christmas spirit,” Mariska said. “People coming together that don’t necessarily know each other, people of different musical talents and ages, and everyone loves Christmas carols.”

Mariska has directed TubaChristmas for the three years since he came to Austin. Mariska was joined by Dennis Conroy in directing, so he could take a turn playing the tuba for a couple of songs.

While several students performed, Mariska noted the performance attracts past players too, getting instruments out of closets and making music.

The 48 players’ ages ranged from 13 to 83 and everywhere in between. This year’s concert featured players from Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin and Ohio.

Dave Kallman, 82, has performed in four of the five TubaChristmas concerts in Austin. As a former Austin band director, Kallman chose the baritone over the tuba because of its smaller size.

“I like the sound,” he said about the baritone. “I like playing tuba, but it’s too heavy for me [now].”

Kallman came from a musical family and felt destined to be involved in music throughout his life. He was excited about the different age groups involved in the concert.

“It’s amazing how the sounds, getting all age levels to play, from the lower grades up to people in their 80s, and put together and make music; it’s a wonderful sound,” Kallman said.

On a different octave, Megan Maxa, 14, was a first-time TubaChristmas player.

“I just felt it would be fun, because usually I play the trumpet, but I asked the band teacher to loan me a baritone,” she said.

Maxa wanted to learn more than just her primary instrument and wanted to give the concert a shot. She is already looking to next year.

“I think I’ll be playing more TubaChristmas,” she said.

For Bev Vangsness, 80, performing in the concert is something she hopes to continue for many years to come.

“It’s just fun to hear the low sounds, I mean, through all the tubas,” she said. “Tubas don’t usually get the spotlight, and today they do.”

Vangsness played the baritone, which she has been playing for many years.

“I like the sound of the baritone, and it’s a challenge,” she said.

Vangsness’ favorite part of the concert isn’t performing, though.

“[The] reaction from the audience,” she said. “People coming back year after year to hear us.”

She added, “I hope they can continue it every year. They’ve always done a great job at getting it going and keeping it going.”

A new venue in ‘15

TubaChristmas is now looking for new Austin home for future years. Although the tuba players don’t have the place yet, next year’s date is already set for Dec. 5, 2015, and Mariska said the concert will continue.

“I’m personally hopeful that when the remodel of the new Oak Park Mall occurs, or what is essentially the new Hy-Vee, that the planners take into account that there really needs to be a community space, a gathering space, an atrium,” Mariska said. “Even though the mall has been struggling in many years, there are a lot of events that take place [here] throughout the course of the year.”

He is hopeful they will find another space that isn’t too formal to perform in the future.

“The thing that’s cool about TubaChristmas is it’s fun and it’s laid back, and you get people to show up who are just kind of walking by, or happen to be in the area,” Mariska said.

Merry TubaChristmas began in 1974 at the Ice Rink Stage of New York City’s Rockefeller Center, where more than 300 tuba, baritone and euphonium players gathered to honor the memory of world-renowned tuba player and Iowa native William J. Bell, who was born on Christmas day, 1902. TubaChristmas was created by Harvey Phillips to honor Bell, and the traditional carols were specially arranged for the first TubaChristmas performance by American composer Alec Wilder, who died Christmas Eve, 1980.