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The Kansas City Symphony is aiming for tuba glory at noon on Friday, December 7 in the Municipal Arena at Municipal Auditorium with its annual holiday tradition TubaChristmas.

Since 2008, the Symphony has hosted hundreds of tuba and euphonium players for TubaChristmas, most recently in Helzberg Hall at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts for two performances each year. For 2018, the Symphony was ready to up the ante by combining all players into one date at the Municipal Arena and go for a GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ title attempt.

The free, one-hour concert on Friday, December 7 will feature traditional holiday carols arranged for tuba and euphoniums, and the concerts draw packed houses. The 2018 concert also will feature the world premiere of a new composition for tubas and euphoniums by James Barnes, noted composer and University of Kansas professor emeritus of music composition. University of Kansas professor of tuba-euphonium, Scott Watson, will conduct the concert.

The tradition of TubaChristmas began in 1974 in New York City by renowned tuba player and teacher Harvey Phillips. Today there are hundreds of TubaChristmas events around the nation and world, making it the perfect event for a GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS official attempt. The current record was achieved on December 21, 2007, in Anaheim, California, with 502 performers.

“We can absolutely break the current GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS title,” said Kansas City Symphony Executive Director Frank Byrne, himself a tuba player. “This event has such wonderful spirit, is so much fun, and we have had incredible response each year. For 2018 we want to have the biggest and best TubaChristmas in the world, and to break a GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS title. It will be a source of pride for Kansas City and great fun for performers and audience.”

The Symphony is taking no chances.

A GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS Adjudicator will attend on Friday, December 7, so everyone at the concert will know if the Kansas City Symphony’s TubaChristmas achieves a GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS title.

Tuba and euphonium players may register to perform here.

Audience members who wish to witness the GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS title attempt can secure free tickets at this page.

“We want to invite tuba players from around the nation to come to KC and help us set the new world record,” Byrne added.

TubaChristmas in Kansas City is generously underwritten by Janet M. Stallmeyer and Donald L. Flora.

WHO: Kansas City Symphony
WHAT: TubaChristmas 2018
WHEN: Noon on Friday, December 7, 2018
WHERE: Municipal Arena at Municipal Auditorium – 301 W 13th Street, Kansas City, MO 64105
WHY: GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS title attempt for Largest tuba ensemble

For more information, please contact the Kansas City Symphony Box Office at (816) 471-0400.