Hundreds of musicians spread holiday cheer at TubaChristmas 50th anniversary show

OF MUSIC TO BRING ALL OF US TOGETHER. HERE'S KATE SNOW. >> Reporter: AT NEW YORK'S ROCKEFELLER CENTER, THIS IS WHAT HOLIDAY CHEER LOOKS AND SOUNDS LIKE. HUNDREDS OF TUBA AND EUPHONIUM PLAYERS FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY. >> I CAME FROM GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN. >> WE CAME FROM SOUTH DAKOTA. >> OHIO. >> Reporter: EVEN THE NORTH POLE. >> IT'S A THRILL. I HEARD ABOUT IT. I SAID I GOT TO DO THAT. >> Reporter: THEY LINED UP IN THE RAIN THIS MONTH TO PERFORM IN THE TUBA CHRISTMAS 50th ANNIVERSARY SHOW. ♪♪ >> THIS IS LIKE A BUCKET LIST ITEM, A DREAM FOR ME. >> I'VE BEEN COMING SINCE HIGH SCHOOL. >> Reporter: THE CELEBRATION MARKING HALF A CENTURY IN THE SPOT WHERE IT ALL BEGAN BACK IN 1974. HOW MANY MORE YEARS OF A TUBA CHRISTMAS DO WE HAVE? >> WHAT DOES INFINITY LOOK LIKE? >> Reporter: GARY PRESS HELPS COORDINATE THE TRADITION. HE'S BEEN INVOLVED SINCE THE MID-'80s. WHAT DO PEOPLE LOVE ABOUT THE TUBA? >> THERE'S A CAMARADERIE THAT WE ALSO NOTICE. TUBA PLAYERS GET ALONG. THAT'S THE SIMPLEST WAY TO PUT IT. >> Reporter: THAT CAMARADERIE HAS LED TO TUBA GATHERINGS ACROSS THE U.S. AND EVEN OVERSEAS. >> TUBA PLAYERS THEY'RE PLAYING THE LOW NOTES IN THE BAND AND OFTEN SUPPORTING EVERYTHING ELSE. AND WHAT'S GREAT ABOUT THIS EVENT IS THEY SIT THERE AND THEY ARE THE ONES THAT SHINE. >> WE ALL HAVE MUSIC INSIDE OF US, AND THE ABILITY TO BE ABLE TO EXPRESS THAT IS INCREDIBLY EMOTIONAL AND POWERFUL EXPERIENCE. >> Reporter: BUT FOR THE PLAYERS HERE, THERE'S SIMPLY NOTHING MORE MAGICAL THAN CHRISTMAS CAROLS AT ROCKEFELLER CENTER. >> WHEN YOU PLAY THE TUBA YOU REALIZE IT'S LIKE A BIG, WARM HUG. ♪♪

Channel: NBC News

Views: 24,584

Keywords: Health, International News, Lester Holt, Making A Difference, NBC Nightly News, National News, News, Nightly News, U.S. News, breaking news, evening news, politics, world news

Id: ByF2iyOJy1Y

Length: 2min 23sec (143 seconds)

Published: Mon Dec 25 2023