Lansdale’s Eleventh Annual Merry Tuba Christmas Concert was held Sunday afternoon at Saint John’s United Church of Christ. It was moved indoors from Railroad Plaza because of dangerous wind chills.  Musicians included Perkiomen Valley High School Band Director David Overholtzer, who brought along a few of the kids.

“We’ve actually made it a tradition for the last six or seven years to get a bunch of kids interested in coming out and performing with this today.  It’s a great event.  Steve Frederick was my high school band director, so I love coming out and being one of his students again, and I want my kids to experience the same thing.”

Former North Penn High School Principal Steve Frederick was one of two conductors.  The other one was Concert Coordinator Chuck Neidhardt, who was playing his tuba when he wasn’t conducting.

“I would never want to just sit here and listen.  I like to play.  I got started in the Tuba Christmas by playing.  My first Tuba Christmas was in Chicago back in 1978.  Ever since then I’ve done as many Tuba Christmases as possible.”

Neidhardt says they had a record 81 musicians in Sunday’s Concert, shattering the old record of 67.