Blacksburg’s thirteenth annual Winter Lights Festival was celebrated Friday night, Dec. 2, and was highlighted by what has become a downtown tradition since 2009: TubaChristmas.
The performance of holiday favorites by a brass ensemble on the Henderson Lawn stage across from the Lyric Theatre following the lighting of the mammoth downtown Christmas tree drew enthusiastic applause from an overflow crowd. Derek Shapiro, Virginia Tech Assistant Professor of Music and Director of Bands was the guest conductor for the evening.
Many of the players threw themselves into the spirit of the evening by donning elf hats and wrapping their instruments with garland and Christmas lights.
Eighteen holiday favorites and standards comprised the evening’s playlist: Adeste Fidelis, Deck the Halls, God Rest Ye Merry gentlemen, The First Noel, Good King Wenceslas, It Came Upon a Midnight Clear, O Little Town of Bethlehem, Silent Night, Carol of the Bells, Hark the Herald Angels Sing, Jingle Bells, Joy to the World, O Christmas Tree, Away in a Manger, We Three Kings, The Wassail Song, Angels We Have Heard on High, and the finale, We Wish You a Merry Christmas.
