OTTUMWA — The Lowly Brass tuba/euphonium ensemble of Ottumwa will host the 5th annual Ottumwa TUBACHRISTMAS celebration Saturday at Indian Hills St. John Auditorium.

The event is one of more than 200 similar events that will take place around the world. All area musicians who play the tuba or the baritone/euphonium are invited to participate.

A free public concert will be at 12 noon in the auditorium and will be broadcast live on KBIZ Radio. More than 40 players are expected to perform. The mass ensemble will be directed by Brenda Hagedon from Pekin Community Schools.

Registration for participants is at 9:30 a.m. and costs $5. It is followed by rehearsal and a break before the noon concert. Music books required for the event will be available for $15 (large print versions are $20). Souvenir items such as TUBACHRISTMAS hats and scarves as well as other items also will be available.

TUBACHRISTMAS is the registered property of the Harvey Phillips Foundation, Inc. (HPF) and is presented in Ottumwa by the Lowly Brass with the express permission of the HPF. The purpose of TUBACHRISTMAS is to honor the memory of Bill Bell, legendary tubist and teacher who was born Dec. 25, 1902, in Creston. He died in 1971 in Perry. For more information, visit the web site — www.tubachristmas.com.

The Lowly Brass has been performing in Southeast Iowa since 2002 including Ottumwa Oktoberfest and the Ottumwa Memorial Day ceremony. Members include Jack Barron, Carlta Conrad, Mary Lee Hansen, Greg Hendrickson, Scott Riggs and Paul Zingg.

For more information, contact Greg Hendrickson at (641) 682-8033 or send e-mail to ottumwatuba@yahoo.com