Some of the interesting Wagner tuba news from around the world in 2025. From notable concert performances and exciting acquisitions to the wonderful tradition of Tuba Christmas events taking place in 2025.
Wagner Tuba Acquisitions
Over the last 12 months or so, two notable acquisitions of Wagner tubas have founds themselves in the media spotlight.
The Liverpool Philharmonic
Having acquired four new Wagner Tubas at the start of the year, the orchestra wasted no time in using them. Firstly, in a performance of Bruckner’s Ninth Symphony a couple of weeks later (highlight of the 3rd movement!) and then in a concert of highlights from Wagner’s Ring Cycle in May.
“The brass section — so often a make-or-break in Wagner — was nothing short of heroic” said one reviewer (Wagner concert review). You can watch the four hornists practising on their new Wagner tubas on the Liverpool Philharmonic Facebook page here.
Yale School Of Music
Originating in 1855, the YSM has built a prestigious reputation and been consistently ranked amongst the best in the world. It was with great interest, therefore, that we read of their acquisition of a set of four new Wagner tubas (two single Bb and two single F tubas), custom-ordered from Gebr. Alexander in Germany. In so doing, the School said that the acquistion “provides YSM students with invaluable resources for professional opportunities and performances of works by composers such as Richard Wagner, Anton Bruckner, and Richard Strauss, who wrote for the instrument.” Great to see the Wagner tuba being added to such a renowned conservatory’s instrument collection.
Tuba Christmas 2025
With Christmas just around the corner, there is a better than average chance (particularly if you are in the USA) of hearing a Wagner tuba in a fun context – in one of the hundreds of Tuba Christmas concerts taking place in December 2025. The event is in its 52nd year with some countries outside the USA also taking part. Amazing testimony to the popularity of brass instruments today.
We have, of course, written about this great event before (see our first Tuba Christmas feature back in 2015) but there’s every chance some of you may not have come across it before. That’s why we have to give it a mention – it just might help to make some brass players’ Christmas a lot more fun this year! You can use the official website’s event locator here to find concert dates and get details of how to sign up, rehearsals, etc.
The primary concert in the USA is at the Rockefeller Center, New York on Sunday December 14, 2025 at 3:30pm. Rehearsal Time 12:45 – 2:15 pm. As they say on the website: “Under the Worlds most Famous Christmas Tree! Rain or Shine.”
Elsewhere in the USA, just a few of the many events include:
Saturday December 6, 2025 at 4pm (rehearsal 2pm)
Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Duluth, Duluth, Minnesota
“The public performance is free, but a hat will be passed to collect money to donate to a local charity” Details here
Saturday December 6, 2025 at 3pm
Stephens Auditorium, Iowa State University, Ames
“TubaChristmas is a symphony of oom-pah and awe … Forget the stereotype of tubas as the punchline of the band.” Details here
Saturday December 6, 2025 at 4pm
Krider Performing Arts Center, Paris, Tenn.
“a unique opportunity for some fabulous low-brass Christmas music” Details here
Sunday December 14, 2025 at 3pm EST
Independence Mall, 3500 Oleander Drive, Wilmington, North Carolina
“Ring in the holidays with Tuba Christmas Carols … event is free for all”
Details here and also here
In CANADA TubaChristmas events this year include:
Thursday, December 4, 2025, at 12:00pm.
Don Wright Faculty of Music, Western University, London, Ontario
Invitation to “all low brass players to bring their instruments and play holiday music alongside university musicians”. Details here.
Thursday, December 18, 2025 at 7:00pm.
Halifax Central Library, Halifax, Nova Scotia
A free concert featuring over 50 tuba players performing Christmas carols. Details here.
Saturday, December 20, 2025, at 1:00pm.
Okanagan College Theatre, Kelowna, British Columbia
A free concert supported by the Kelowna City Concert Band, featuring local tuba and euphonium players. Details here.
In THE UNITED KINGDOM there are two Christmas events of note:
Glasgow, Scotland – Tuba Carols Scotland
Saturday December 6, 2025 at 3pm.
Location: Buchanan Galleries, Glasgow.
“Get ready to fill Glasgow with festive low-brass power!”
A fundraising event for the Music For All Charity.
Event Facebook page with details is here and also on the Scottish International Tuba Festival page.
London, England – Tuba Carols
Saturday, December 13, 2025 at 11am-12.30pm.
Location: Granary Square, Kings Cross, London.
“All Tuba, Euphonium, Baritone, Cimbasso, Ophicleide, Helikon & Sousaphone players welcome”
The event has its own Facebook page here.
Other locations – it is worth checking local events websites for your area as well as social media groups. Facebook seems to be a popular platform for event organisers to promote their concerts. For example, there is a public group called ‘Tuba X-mas And Performance Events’ (4,800 members) here. Alternatively, if you search Facebook for “Tuba Christmas” + your city or state, you might find more specific pages or groups that give details of events local to you.
