Stephen F. Austin State University

McALLEN — During many concerts, the tuba is relegated to playing a simple “umpah” line. But on Sunday, the large brass instrument had its day to blare melodies and harmonies of Christmas carols during the Rio Grande Valley’s 20th Annual TubaChristmas ensemble.

More than 400 musicians from school districts throughout the Rio Grande Valley, as well as area colleges, performed several carols inside a packed auditorium at McAllen High School.

TubaChristmas is an annual concert conducted by student and professional tuba and euphonium players in honor of the late William J. Bell, a music teacher and accomplished tubist. Bell was born on Christmas day in 1902. The first concert was performed in New York in 1974.

Today, more than 150 concerts are performed all over the world and the Rio Grande Valley’s performance is one of the largest, said Mark May, a spokesman for the McAllen school district and the concert’s master of ceremonies.

Sunday’s performance also featured Alamo native and PSJA High School alumnus J.D. Salas, who now teaches tuba and euphonium at Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches.

Salas played with the ensemble, performed a solo which he dedicated to his former music teacher at PSJA and conducted Angels We Have Heard on High.

“There’s nothing like coming home,” said Salas.

Salas, who has performed and taught music all over the world, said the concert also gives students the chance to showcase their talent without being overshadowed by other instruments.

“This instrument is not well known playing melodic lines,” he said.

The musicians, packed on stage and seated along the auditorium’s walls, played classics such as “O Little Town of Bethlehem” to the popular “You’re A Mean One, Mr. Grinch” from Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas.

They ended their performance with “We Wish You a TubaChristmas,” their own take on the song “We Wish You a Merry Christmas.” Several musicians also sang parts of songs in between measures they were assigned to play.

The event wasn’t just music. Organizers of the ensemble also held a tuba decoration contest.

Guadalupe Casarez, a TubaChristmas veteran, won second place for his adorned instrument. Casarez, who has decorated his tuba every year for the past nine years he played with the ensemble, attached three giftwrapped boxes atop the instrument with a hole cut out so as to not muzzle the sound.

“It was my sister and mom’s idea,” said Casarez, a 2006 McAllen High School graduate who now is a junior at the University of Texas-Pan American.

Others dressed their instruments as snowmen, Christmas trees and ornaments.

Like Casarez, students said they come back every year to celebrate the instrument they love.

“(And) goofing off,” said Edgar Rodriguez, a 17-yearold senior from Los Fresnos High School.