Santa Claus hats add an extra dose of holiday cheer to the Tuba Christmas concert on Saturday afternoon. Photo by Tabitha Johnston

SHEPHERDSTOWN — For the many years they were living in Maryland, the Alexander family would find themselves making the trip over to Baltimore every December, to participate in the closest Tuba Christmas celebration to them.

The family had inherited a love for music from previous generations, along with an actually instrument from Duane Alexander’s father, who had found joy in playing the euphonium in the midst of growing up during the Great Depression. Each of the following generations found themselves learning to play brass instruments growing up, whether it be the euphonium and tuba, in the cases of Duane and his son Keith, or the French horn, in the case of his daughter Kristin. Their musical hobbies led them to get involved with the nationwide Tuba Christmas movement, which was established in 1974 by renowned tuba player Harvey Phillips at Rockefeller Plaza in New York City. After its founding, Christmas concerts featuring tubas, euphoniums and other brass instruments with similar low registers began being performed by groups of amateur and professional musicians on an annual basis, nationwide. It quickly became a favorite pastime for the Alexander family.

And so when Keith and his wife, Eva, moved to the area two decades ago, he became aware of the lack of any Tuba Christmas concert in the Eastern Panhandle. He soon began teaching history at Shepherd University and, after some encouragement on his part, helped introduce the tradition to the area — something his parents and sister greatly appreciated, as they had also moved to the area around the same time as him.

On Saturday afternoon, that tradition once again returned to the steps of McMurran Hall in Shepherdstown, where Keith could be seen playing a tuba at the 15th annual Tuba Christmas concert, while his mother, Marianne, and sister cheered him on.

“We look forward to this every year,” Kristin said.

From left to right, Shepherdstown residents Marianne Alexander, Kristin Alexander and J.J. Feldman ring their bells at the Tuba Christmas concert on Saturday afternoon. Photo by Tabitha Johnston

Kristin’s son, J.J. Feldman, could be found wearing a Grinch costume, while Kristin and Marianne each sported their own sets of sleigh bells, to ring along with the performance of “Jingle Bells.”

“Every year they do ‘Jingle Bells,’ so we make sure to bring them with us,” Marianne said. “Tuba Christmas is a really fun, bold way to celebrate the holidays.”

Their close friend, Shepherdstown resident Sue Kemnitzer, could be seen — and heard — ringing her own set of sleigh bells alongside them.

“I’ve been coming to this, for probably as long as it’s been going on,” Kemnitzer said. “I like the big, hearty sound of these instruments. It’s really nice to let the musicians show off what their instruments can do, when they’re not relegated to only playing the lower notes. You can’t help but feel more in the Christmas spirit, after hearing them play.”

Shepherd University history professor Keith Alexander plays the tuba, during the Tuba Christmas concert on the steps of McMurran Hall on Saturday. Photo by Tabitha Johnston

A tuba player, dressed as an elf, performs at the Tuba Christmas concert on Saturday. Photo by Tabitha Johnston

Shepherd University tuba and euphonium professor Simon Wildman conducts the Tuba Christmas concert on the steps of McMurran Hall on Saturday. Photo by Tabitha Johnston