Five MHS musicians and an MHS alumnus played in the 52nd Annual Merry TUBACHRISTMAS in Aberdeen on Saturday, November 22. The group joined hundreds of cities across the world who are also celebrating 2025 TUBACHRISTMAS.
The 30 Aberdeen players ranged in age from fifth grade to 60-plus. Milbank students included: senior Nycole Korstjens (euphonium), sophomore Ismael Gomez (euphonium), sophomore Darin Hagen (euphonium), and senior Krista Nies (trombone). Ian Liebe, a graduate of MHS, who now attends Northern State University, also played the euphonium. Susan Karels, Milbank’s band director for grades 6-12, accompanied the MHS students to the event.
After a morning of rehearsals, the TUBACHRISTMAS group presented performances at the Aberdeen Winterfest and the Shriner’s “Feztival” of Trees.
TUBACHRISTMAS began in 1974 as a tribute to the late William J. Bell, a tubist and music instructor born on Christmas Day in 1902. The Guinness Book of World Records cites the largest TUBACHRISTMAS performance as the one held in Kansas City in 2021 with 835 tubas and euphoniums participating.
Photo: Front Row: Nycole Korstjens and Ismael Gomez
Second Row: Darin Hagen, Mrs. Karels, and Krista Nies
Photographer Ian Liebe
Staff
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