Jimmy Fellows of Mineral Ridge perform Sunday at Tuba Christmas at Stambaugh Auditorium in Youngstown.

YOUNGSTOWN — While they were fewer in number on stage performing and even fewer in the audience watching, the annual Tuba Christmas organizers made sure local residents could watch online a holiday performance that has become a local tradition.

Thirteen tuba players gathered on the stage at Stambaugh Auditorium Sunday afternoon and a few more joined them virtually to perform several Christmas and holiday-themed tunes while being recorded.

Dani Dier, business manager for Stambaugh Auditorium and event organizer for Tuba Christmas, said only about one-fourth of the players were performing live on stage with 13 in person and three virtually led by conductor Bob Antonucci.

Normally, 100 tuba players fill the stage and play for a packed concert hall. In previous years, more than 1,000 people have showed up to watch the free concert,

“Even though we are all going through COVID-19, we wanted to do some performance this year. We want to give everyone some holiday cheer,” Dier said.

The performance can be seen on the Stambaugh Auditorium YouTube page and app.

“We have found with other performances that there are a lot of people who will watch the virtual livestream and because it is still available afterward, two to three times as many people will watch,” she said.

Dier said recently the Stambaugh Youth Band concert was held virtually and more than 800 people tuned in to watch it and more than 100 more people watched it later.

Many of the Sunday’s Tuba Christmas performers have participated in prior years.

“We sent the invitation out to any previous participant who wanted to take part and then opened it up next to anyone else who wanted to be part. We were hoping to have 30 in person,” Dier said.

“It is nice we are able to do this and make it safe for everyone here and also for anyone who wanted to listen to the music,” Antonucci said.

Participants were seated spaced apart on the auditorium stage.

Manoli Kondolios, 17, a senior at Howland High School who plays the euphorium, said his music director told him about the event and he has been taking part each year since he was in eighth grade.

“This is my fifth year being part of this,” he said.

Jimmy Fellows of Mineral Ridge said he has been part of the event for the past 10 years.

“I was glad to be part of this. We didn’t expect to get as many as we usually do. I was told 30 would be the max to be here,” he said.

Lauren Zetts of Campbell said, “It’s great to come to Stambaugh Auditorium. Even with COVID and not everyone can be here, it’s nice to be able to share this event with Valley residents. It is really neat.”

“I try to perform at a Tuba Christmas every year and it looked like this would be the only live one in Ohio being held,” said Dan Corfman of Freemont.

“I wanted to get to Youngstown and be part of this for the past couple of years. This seemed like the year to do this. I am glad they were still able to have a performance to participate in,”said Justin Dye of Andover.

Travis Beatty of Lowellville said Antonucci was his teacher at Lowellville schools 12 years ago.

“I have been taking part for the past nine years and started when we were at the Eastwood Mall. It’s great we are able to hold events with any live performance,” Beatty said.

There was less than 10 people in the audience, and most were parents supporting their sons and daughters on stage.

Austintown Fitch band director Wes O’Connor, who performed virtually for the performance, sang and played tuba for “Santa Wants a Tuba for Christmas.”

“We hope to see everyone here next year when the Tuba Christmas will be as strong as ever,” he said.

Jeff and Lisa Wogan of Canfield where there for their son, Sam, a high school student.

“We are glad we are able to be here and show our support for him and this event. This is his first time being part of this as a group. We were not sure what to expect this year but glad they were able to hold this to make it feel at least a little normal this year,” Jeff Wogan said.

“It was sad we couldn’t have more people here but it’s understandable,” said Connie Parks of Howland, who was there for her son, Jimmy.

“He has been doing this since eighth grade. His sister Cassandra used to perform in the band here also,” she said.

“Trying to get creative and look at ways that we can still present events for the enjoyment, education and entertainment of the community.,” said Joann Stock, chief development officer at Stambaugh Auditorium.

Tuba Christmas was first started in New York City at Rockefeller Center in 1974, where 300 musicians dressed like Santa to play.

Since then, the tradition has spread all over the world.

This was the 22nd annual event locally. It started at the Eastwood Mall and then moved to the Eastwood Expo Center. It outgrew that space and moved to Stambaugh several years ago.

bcoupland@tribtoday.com