Seven hundred people turned out recently to attend the 12th annual Tuba Christmas performance held at Polk County High School.

In 2008 there were over 200 Tuba Christmas events in the United States and other countries. This year, five of these events were in North Carolina: in Columbus, Fayetteville, Greensboro, Pembroke and Wilmington.

From 40 instrumentalists in 1998, Polk Countys Tuba Christmas grew to 70 instrumentalists in 2008.

A tuba ensemble of over sixty players not only played White Christmas, the standard Christmas carols, but, for the first time, Handels Hallelujah Chorus from the Messiah.

Dr. William Bryant of A.C. Reynolds High School in Asheville was the conductor. Cindy Gilbert, Polk County High School Band Director, was the host. Dr. Stan Howell, retired choir director, led the carol singing.

A 12 year old, Jordan Marcial, of Advance, N.C., was the youngest player and Ralph Morris, 84, of Hendersonville was the oldest.

Carson Williams of Hickory, N.C., a freshman at Western Carolina University, won the Universitys audition to play the honor solo, O Holy Night, by Adams.

Weve come a long way from our first Tuba Christmas in Columbus, said coordinator, Stan Howell. Rain came at noon that day so we played out concert in Stearns Auditorium. From then on we played in the Polk County High School.

The 2010 Tuba Christmas will be held on Saturday, December 4.

Local residents shared their comments about this years Tuba Christmas: We cant say enough about the success of the Tuba Christmas performance. The success that they have in recruiting talent for the program is a testimony to their salesmanship, making this event such a popular attraction for both the performers and audience.

We invited friends from Asheville to attend the Tuba Christmas, and we all enjoyed it very much.