East Meadow students show off tuba skills

Twenty-three lower brass students from East Meadow High School and W.T. Clarke high schools took part in the 46th annual Merry TubaChristmas extravaganza at Rockefeller Center on Dec. 15, making the East Meadow Music Department the largest musical group in attendance.

The students were among over 400 musicians from across the country, ranging in age from 10 to 79, who played Christmas carols on the Rockefeller Center ice rink beneath the tree for an audience of thousands. Chris Wilhjelm, former conductor of the famed Goldman Memorial Band, led the skilled group. 

TubaChristmas was created in 1974 by Harvey Phillips as a tribute to his teacher-mentor William Bell and is festively celebrated in over 200 cities throughout the world.

—Brian Stieglitz