Date: Jan 02, 2009

Members of the Hofstra Tuba/Euphonium Ensemble on the set of "Good Morning America"

Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY ... Twelve student and alumni members of the Hofstra Tuba/Euphonium Ensemble joined Hofstra Adjunct Assistant Professor of Music Michael Saltzman and 51 other musicians for a holiday music segment broadcasted on ABC’s Good Morning America on December 20, 2008.

This performance commemorated the 35th anniversary of TubaChristmas, an international celebration of the holiday season, designed to promote the instrument and to dispel stereotypes that lead people to believe that instruments of the tuba family are not capable of playing beautiful music. TubaChristmas audience members are often amazed at the beautiful sounds of the Tuba/Euphonium Choir. 

TubaChristmas is organized by the Harvey Phillips Foundation, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to “...developing, expanding, and preserving the music arts...” The Foundation focuses special attention on musical instruments not ordinarily the object of other support.

Professor Salzman is one of the regional coordinators of TubaChristmas and was asked to help pull together musicians for the ABC broadcast. 

This year there were 242 TubaChristmas celebrations around the world. The largest was the 35th annual event in New York City’s Rockefeller Center on December 13, which featured the participation of more than 500 tuba and euphonium players. Professor Salzman has participated in TubaChristmas every year since 1975 and has been helping to organize the New York event for the past 20 years.

Related Link: Watch the Performance on Good Morning America