Tuba players sit together on the porch of McMurran Hall on Saturday afternoon. David Pennock

SHEPHERDSTOWN — The 51st anniversary of TubaChristmas was commemorated at this year’s TubaChristmas concert in Shepherdstown, held in front of McMurran Hall on Saturday afternoon.

According to Shepherd University Interim Director of the School of Music Scott Hippensteel, the event was brought to Shepherdstown around 2010 and has continued every year, excepting last year.

“I didn’t get it on the books last year. Because I was busier, I didn’t get the application in in time,” Hippensteel said. “There was a big outcry around November, when it was too late to do anything about it. A lot of people were asking, ‘Why aren’t we doing it this year?’ and ‘Who’s in charge of this?’ and ‘What’s going on?’

“I responded, ‘Sorry guys, I dropped the ball. We’ll do it next year,” Hippensteel said. “That made me realize that it’s really important to a lot of folks.”

He noted that about 20-30 tuba and euphonium players from throughout the region participate in Shepherdstown’s TubaChristmas concert every year. This year, he said they had 23 participants.

Shepherd University professor Simon Wildman welcomes the crowd to TubaChristmas, which was held in front of McMurran Hall on Saturday. David Pennock

“TubaChristmas began in 1974 at the Ice Rank Stage in Rockefeller Center in New York City,” Hippensteel said, mentioning that the Christmas carol-playing event then grew into an annual tradition run by the Harvey Phillips Foundation, Inc. “You can sign up to coordinate TubaChristmas anywhere — there are locations throughout the country and around the world. Every year, a unique commemorative button is released, so many people make sure not to miss it!”

One such person is Hedgesville resident Nelson Breland, who has played at over 100 TubaChristmas concerts to-date.

“He has over 100 pins! He has been doing these concerts for about 40 years. He’s been doing it so long, he knows all of the songs by heart,” said his wife, Pilar Breland, as he tuned up. “It’s a lot of fun — they get to play Christmas silly music! Usually, tubas are only used to play the deep, dark tones in music.”

Shepherdstown’s TubaChristmas tradition was begun around 2010, by Shepherd University family and consumer sciences chair Kathleen Corpus and Shepherd University history professor Keith Alexander, who is a third-generation tuba player. Hippensteel said that he was then asked the next year to take over coordinating and conducting it. Then about three years ago, he handed over the conducting duties to tuba, euphonium and baritone adjunct faculty member Simon Wildman, which has allowed Hippensteel to join the tuba and euphonium players.

For Wildman, leading the TubaChristmas ensemble has become something he looks forward to every year.

Tuba players perform Christmas carols in front of McMurran Hall on Saturday. David Pennock

“It’s very cheerful, to hear all of these Christmas tunes,” Wildman said. “TubaChristmas has a warm sound that warms up the spirit!”