A certain long-standing holiday tradition has dictated what University of Iowa tuba professor John Manning will wear on the final day of the fall semester.
“When I first got here in 2004, my students said, ‘Oh, by the way, we do this thing where you have to dress up like Santa and conduct us. Here’s the music,’” says Manning.
The Holiday Tubas concert, which takes place on the last day of classes on the steps of Old Capitol, is a beloved tradition at the University of Iowa and in the Iowa City community. Manning says it has remained popular because of its light-hearted nature.
“At first I was a little self-conscious about dressing up, until I went to the first gig and saw how many people showed up. Then I saw how everyone had a smile on their face, and how many kids would receive candy canes. I speak with people who come every year with their kids, or other who would come when they were students here and come now as faculty members.
“It’s one of those traditions you have to maintain.”
This year's concert
Collegium Tubum will help bring a festive spirit to the University of Iowa campus with the annual Holiday Tubas concert. The free concert will take place at 12:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 9, on the steps of the Old Capitol Museum.
The origin of “Collegium Tubum”
“Former UI tuba professor Bob Yates named the tuba and euphonium ensemble Collegium Tubum and I kept the name because it’s kind of funny. Collegium usually refers to a group of like-minded individuals and Tubum, which you would think is the plural of tubas, is actually the Latin plural of tuber, which are root vegetables. The joke is that we’re a group of potatoes and it sounds like a fancy name, but it’s really nonsense.”
—John Manning, director of Collegium Tubum
Manning directs the Collegium Tubum, UI’s tuba and euphonium ensemble, and serves as the conductor of the annual Holiday Tubas concert. Manning’s predecessor, Robert Yates, started the tradition of conducting the Collegium Tubum on the steps of the Old Capitol in the mid-1970s.
“Nobody knows the exact year it started,” says Manning. “There are hundreds of these Christmas tuba events across the country—it’s sort of a national tradition.”
The first known concert of its kind was TUBACHRISTMAS, started by Harvey Phillips, a renowned tuba player and distinguished professor at Indiana University, in 1974. He created the event in memory of his mentor, William Bell—a native of Creston, Iowa, who was one of America’s premier tuba players and instructors. Soon after, similar events appeared across the country.
Holiday Tubas features music arranged by current and former University of Iowa students. Those in attendance can expect to hear tuba and euphonium renditions of holiday favorites such as “Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer,” “Frosty the Snowman,” “Jingle Bells,” “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch,” “Jingle Bell Rock,” and “Silent Night.”
“We invite members of the community who play tuba, euphonium, or sousaphone to join us,” says Manning. “We’ll have plenty of music sheets for people. We’ve had everyone from fifth graders to people in their 70s and 80s join us, as well as members of the Hawkeye Marching Band and alumni band.”
Jackson Cole, a UI junior music education major from Council Bluffs, Iowa, will participate in his third Holiday Tubas concert this year. He enjoys playing with community members.
“My favorite part is the inclusivity of it,” says Cole, who plays the tuba. “Inviting people from the community to come out and play with us, it’s a great thing. People who may not have played in a long time show up and jump right in.”
The Old Capitol Museum serves as the host for Holiday Tubas concert and provides cookies and cider for attendees who want to stay and chat with the musicians after the concert.
“It’s great to have a tradition that brings people together, brings people out of their offices in the middle of the day, in a busy part of the semester,” says Trina Roberts, director of the Pentacrest Museums. “It brightens everyone’s mood to listen to a bunch of tubas playing ‘You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch’ while wearing Santa hats. It’s light-hearted and it’s always fun to see.”
In conjunction with the concert, Collegium Tubum collects toys to donate to SPECS, Strong Partners Embracing Change and Solidarity.
“SPECS offers assistance to women who are survivors of abuse,” says Manning. “If a woman arrives at a shelter with her children, seeking safety, she might not be able to bring things like toys with her. We started giving toys to SPECS so they would have toys to distribute, and they’ve really appreciated it.”