The Elsinore Theatre halls will echo with the sounds of brass once again this Christmas Eve for Salem Tuba Holiday. The annual concert features an ensemble of over 50 local musicians playing tubas, euphoniums and baritone horns. This year’s program will include 23 holiday songs, including sing- a-longs, solo performances and instrumental arrangements.  Salem Symphonic Winds director John Skelton and his wife, Toni, have organized Salem Tuba Holiday since 2013, carrying on a tradition originally introduced by TubaChristmas. Skelton is also the conductor for the holiday concert.  Tickets are $10 when bought online in advance, or $15 at the door. For Wednesday, the floor is largely sold out, while some balcony seats are still available. Doors open at 11 a.m. and the concert begins at noon. The theatre is located at 170 High St. S.E. Skelton said the floor usually sells out, with the balconies close behind. He sees many familiar faces year after year.   He is most looking forward to the “spirit of the day.” “When I look out and I see grandparents with their kids and their grandkids all sitting there smiling and singing along with the tubas, it’s sort of a joyful setting and opportunity,” Skelton said. Families travel from all over the Willamette Valley to Salem to enjoy the locally-organized concert. Some even travel from out of state to see their family members perform. The youngest performer is 9 years old, with the oldest performers being in their 80s and 90s.  “We have some young players whose instruments are just about as large as they are,” Skelton said. The score this year includes classics like “Jingle Bells,” “Silent Night,” “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing,” “We Wish You a Merry Christmas” and “Joy to the World.” About half of the songs will welcome audience participation, with the lyrics displayed on a screen for people to follow along with. Vocalist Jeff Witt will return this year to sing four songs, including “Up on the Housetop” and “O Holy Night.” About eight to ten songs are new to the show this year. Among them are two instrumental arrangements in honor of a recently-deceased California tuba player, Jim Self.  The stage is just as festive as the music, with many musicians decorating their instruments and dressing in holiday colors. Have a news tip? Contact reporter Hailey Cook: [email protected] . A MOMENT MORE, PLEASE – If you found this story useful, consider subscribing to Salem Reporter if you don’t already. Work such as this, done by local professionals, depends on community support from subscribers. Please take a moment and sign up now – easy and secure: SUBSCRIBE. The post Christmas carols will fill the Elsinore Wednesday for Salem Tuba Holiday appeared first on Salem Reporter. ...read more read less