Tag Archives: Northfield MN

SEMAC awards Legacy Amendment grant to Vintage Band Festival

On November 19 the Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council (SEMAC)  awarded Vintage Band Festival (VBF) a $10,000 Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund grant for its summer 2025 one-day event. Other Northfield recipients of SEMAC grants in this cycle are the Bridge Chamber Music Festival, the Northfield Jazz Festival, the Paradise Center for the Arts, and the Healthy Community Initiative.

The SEMAC grant will enable VBF to recruit 3 high-caliber bands for the schedule in addition to funding part of the audio technology necessary to achieve a great audience experience.

VBF 2025 will be held on Saturday, August 2, 2025 in Downtown Northfield, Minnesota. Without this financial support from SEMAC, it would be much harder to balance the budget of Vintage Band Festival. Thanks to SEMAC and thanks to the Minnesota voters who supported and continue to renew the 2008 Legacy Amendment to the state constitution that provides for ongoing funding for arts and culture in the state of Minnesota.

Tuba Christmas in Northfield 2024

Tuba Christmas in Northfield returns on Saturday, December 7, 2024. This fun event has been presented in many communities of the United States for over 50 years. Low brass instruments playing Christmas carols in harmony provides a listening experience that has no parallel.

The location for Tuba Christmas in Northfield is Skinner Memorial Chapel on the campus of Carleton College. The chapel is on 1st Street between Winona and College Streets on the east side of town. The rear doors (northside) of the building are accessible via ramped sidewalks. Parking is on city streets in the neighborhood.

Registration for musicians opens at 12:00 pm. There will be a rehearsal at 1:00 pm and a break from 2:00-3:00 pm. The performance begins at 3:00 pm. Registration is $10 for musicians and with that every musician will receive a commemorative pin.

“Carols for a Merry Tuba Christmas” books will be available for purchase for those who don’t own a copy already. There are books for both treble and bass clef readers. Large format books are $25 and small format books are $20. Tuba Christmas apparel will also be available in a variety of colors. Hats are $15, headbands are $10 and scarves are $20.

Cash, check or credit cards will be accepted. Checks should be made payable to Vintage Band Festival.

Tuba Christmas in Northfield is a free and family-friendly event. Be sure to tell your family to join the fun and spread the word to any friends who might wish to join us on stage. Musicians of any age are welcome!

Sheldon Theatre Brass Band Holiday Concert

We’re excited to share the news that the Sheldon Theatre Brass Band will be bringing its annual holiday concert to Northfield this year! This special performance is free and open to the public. It will take place on Sunday, Nov. 26 at 2:00pm, at First UCC (First United Church of Christ, 300 Union St, Northfield, MN). More info below.

The Sheldon Theatre Brass Band has performed at all of the Vintage Band Festival shows in Northfield over the years, so you may be familiar with them. They are a full-size British-style band with 30 players. For the holiday concert, they will play a spirited mix of music to delight all ages. Frosty the Snowman (on tuba), Let It Snow! (with a jazz vocalist), and thrilling full-band compositions are all on the list. Bring yourself, your friends, and family for this free show on the Sunday after Thanksgiving.

NOTE: They will also be performing in Red Wing in their home venue, The Sheldon Theatre. That show is on Saturday, Nov. 25 at 3pm. Tickets are required and cost $14 – $25, available for purchase at this website or by contacting the box office at 651-388-8700 or buytickets@SheldonTheatre.

Tuba Christmas 2023 in Northfield

Vintage Band Festival is presenting Tuba Christmas 2023 in Northfield, Minnesota on Saturday, December 2 at 3:00 pm. The event will take place in Skinner Memorial Chapel, 405 1st St. E. on the campus of Carleton College. Retired St. Olaf College professor Dr. Paul Niemisto will be the conductor of Tuba Christmas 2023.

Tuba Christmas is an annual event that brings together euphonium, baritone, sousaphone and tuba players of all ages to play Christmas carols for the enjoyment of family, friends and the general public. The music made by dozens of low brass instruments playing as a choir is an experience not to be missed, either as a participant or as a listener.

2023 is the 50th anniversary of Tuba Christmas concert events which are presented throughout the world. Tuba Christmas was conceived in 1974 by tubist Harvey Phillips of Indiana University as a tribute to his teacher and mentor William J. Bell, born on Christmas Day, 1902. The first Tuba Christmas was conducted by Paul Lavalle at New York City’s Rockefeller Plaza Ice Rink on Sunday, December 22, 1974.

There are now over 300 Tuba Christmas events produced annually throughout the United States and internationally. Registration for participants in Northfield’s Tuba Christmas will open at 12:00 pm on December 2. Registration fee is $10. There will be a rehearsal at 1:00 pm and the performance will be at 3:00 pm. Music played at Tuba Christmas will be from “Carols for a Merry Tuba Christmas” which will be available for purchase at registration. Musicians are invited to decorate their instruments if they so choose. Details for the event can be found at www.vintagebandfestival.org . This event is family-friendly, free and open to the public.

Tuba Christmas 2023 in Northfield is made possible with generous assistance from Carleton College.

Tuba Christmas was a resounding success!

Saturday, December 3, was a magical day in Northfield. For the first time in three years Vintage Band Festival was again able to present Tuba Christmas to the Northfield community. 2022 is the 49th anniversary year of Tuba Christmas, an event that is now celebrated in over 300 venues throughout the world.

Nearly 50 musicians were present on the stage in Skinner Memorial Chapel on the campus of Carleton College. The chapel was filled with an appreciative audience and everyone had a smile on their with the joy of being in community again and hearing the sound of low-brass music filling the space.

One registered player was not in his chair, but his tuba was on the stage adorned with a Tuba Christmas headband and a U.S. Navy flag. Nick Borene, a graduate of Northfield High School and now serving in the Navy on the west coast, wanted to attend this year, but couldn’t, so his parents registered him and brought his tuba to the event. We were glad to welcome him in absentia!

Thanks to the members of the VBF board who were on hand to register the musicians, welcome the audience and sell music books and Tuba Christmas apparel. Thanks also to Carleton College for co-hosting and sponsoring the event for the fourth time. See you again in 2023!

Don’t forget: Tuba Christmas 2019 is December 7!

Tuba Christmas 2019 in Northfield, MN.

Skinner Chapel, Carleton College, 405 1st St E.

Registration opens at 12 pm.

$10 registration fee for musicians. Music for Tuba Christmas is the book “Carols for a Merry Tuba Christmas”, which will be available for purchase at the event if you don’t have one already. Books are $20. Tuba Christmas scarves, hats and headbands will also be available for purchase. Please bring a music stand is you have one and don’t forget to decorate your instrument!

Rehearsal is at 1 pm.

Concert is at 3 pm.

Concert is free and open to the public.