9th annual TUBACHRISTMAS set Dec. 15 in Spring Valley

The ninth annual TUBACHRISTMAS in the Illinois Valley is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 15, at Hall High School, 800 W. Erie St., Spring Valley.

Those wanting to play can register by calling Music Suite 408 at 815-223-4408 or download materials at www.408fineartsfactory.com under Special Events caption. Walk-in registrations are welcome. Music is available now for purchase.

Registration for players is 12:30 p.m. with a rehearsal from 1 to 3 p.m. and a free concert open to the public at 4:30 p.m. at Hall High School Auditorium.

The concert is sponsored by Music Suite 408, North Central Illinois ARTworks and Starved Rock Country Community Foundation.

The public is asked to bring nonperishable food items to the concert to restock the Hall Township and Illinois Valley food pantries.

MERRY TUBACHRISTMAS is celebrating its 51st anniversary this year. Created by renowned tubist Harvey Phillips of Indiana University, concerts this year will be presented in more than 300 cities throughout the United States and in several foreign countries. Performances feature Christmas carols especially arranged for tubas, sousaphone, baritones and euphoniums. Participants of all ages are encouraged to wear festive attire and decorate their instruments in honor of the season and these noble instruments. The warm, rich, organ-like sound of the tuba-euphonium choir has won the ears and hearts of every audience, making TUBACHRISTMAS an established Christmas tradition in many cities throughout the world.

While participants must provide music and pay a nominal fee to participate, all concerts are free to the public in celebration of the season.

As at past TubaChristmas concerts, an empty chair will be left in memory of Antone Smania, Oglesby, who was an advocate of music education in the Illinois Valley. Smania was the director of the Peru and Oglesby municipal bands until his death on April 23, 1999. Music Suite 408 has acquired Smania’s Helicon tuba from his daughter, Barbara and it will be at the concert, as he is in spirit.

This year’s conductor will be Kevin Jensen who has enjoyed an eclectic career in music – one that has included a mix of instrumental and vocal music: jazz, musical theater, computer and MIDI technology, arranging and writing. Jensen was the conductor and musical director for the Rockford Wind Ensemble for more than 20 years. His 35-year career as a band director included Eureka, Batavia and Loves Park/Machesney Park (Harlem) high schools. In 2014 he was given the Rockford Mayor’s Arts Award, and in 2015 was recognized as the Outstanding Alumni for the School of Music at Illinois State University, where he earned a degree in both instrumental and choral music education. While at ISU, he studied euphonium with Ed Livingston, music composition with Roque Cordero, served as staff arranger for the School of Music, and was drum major of the Big Red Marching Machine. Jensen is a composer with nearly 40 commercially published works and more than 200 freelance commissioned works to his credit. He has composed or arranged music for virtually every genre: orchestra, chamber music, concert band, jazz combo, choirs, marching band, commercial music, a full length musical – the list goes on, and even includes a solos for musical saw and juggler with band accompaniment. Locally, he has been involved with Starlight Theater, the Rockford Symphony Orchestra, the Nielsen Chorale, TubaChristmas Rockford and the Rockford Concert Band. He is an active quest conductor; in 2021 he led the ILMEA District 8 senior band, and in December 2022 he conducted the Rockford Symphony Orchestra’s Holiday Pops concert at the Coronado Theater. His wife, Amy, taught choir and piano classes at Hononegah High School for 30 years. Their three grown children also continue to teach and perform music.

Rex Benson will serve as concertmaster and emcee for this year’s TubaChristmas in the Illinois Valley. He received both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in music education from Illinois State University, also serving as an undergraduate and graduate teaching assistant. He continued his education through course work at Aurora College and Vandercook School of Music. Benson retired after 25 years at Mendota High School. He has been an active member of the IHSA, ILMEA, MENC, ASBDA, Phi Beta Mu, and IEA-NEA. His performance experience has included performing in the Illinois Valley Community College Wind Ensemble, Illinois Valley Symphony Orchestra, Illinois Valley Brass Ensemble, Peoria Municipal Band, Prairie Wind Ensemble, King Bros. Circus Band and Mendota Brass Ensemble. He is an adjudicator at all levels, festival conductor, and has given clinics at ISU and Illinois Wesleyan University. In 2005, Benson was the recipient of the National Federation of State High School Associations Outstanding Music Educator Award for Section 4 representing Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan and Wisconsin. In 1998 he was the recipient of the Phi Beta Mu-Illinois Outstanding Bandmaster Award and in 1993 and 2009, he was awarded the Excellence in Education Award in LaSalle County. Most recently he was awarded ILMEA’s Distinguished Service Award. He resides with his wife, Christine Benson, in Ottawa.