A couple hundred tuba players, and hundreds more audience members, gathered at Pioneer Courthouse Square ( thesquarepdx) for the annual Tuba Christmas Concert. Tuba Christmases are held around the world. The tradition started 48 years ago as a way to honor William Bell, a renowned tuba player with the New York Philharmonic who was born on Christmas Day, 1902. After Bell died in 1971, his student Harvey Phillips wanted to honor him. The first Tuba Christmas was held in New York in 1974. Since then, concerts have cropped up by tuba fans across the globe. The Tuba Christmas website currently lists over 200 concerts across the country and some internationally. Portland sports one of largest groups of tuba players in the country that come together for this holiday concert. 📸: hello__destiny #tubachristmas #tubachristmasconcert #portland #portlandoregon #pioneercourthousesquare #thesquarepdx #holidaymusic #holidayconcert #theoregonian