UI music students offer hilarious performance Halloween night
What is the product of a handful of passionate music students, several variations of brass instruments, and countless baguettes? Why, it’s “Les Tuba Misérables,” this year’s rendition of a nearly 30-year-old tradition, known as Tubaween.
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Tubaween was originally a formal fall recital for students who played instruments such as the tuba, euphonium or sousaphone. It now operates as an opportunity for University of Idaho music students to show off their musical, theatrical, dancing and vocal skills.
The basis of Tubaween is fairly simple. It is a student-run performance in the Administration Building Auditorium with a recital, a skit and a costume contest. The grand prize given to the winner of the contest remains a secret.
Attendees can expect a wide array of storytelling and drama.
“You can expect a love story, comedy, even tragedy,” said fourth-year Tubaween participant Byron Flood. “Basically it’s just us being silly onstage, so expect a fun time.”
Tubaween is original and enticing because it is entirely written, planned and performed by students.
Fourth-year participant Gary Pawelko arranges music for the event.
“Even though Tubaween began as a recital, it has become more of a musical,” Pawelko said.
“Les Tuba Misérables” will be euphonium player Chelsae Linehan’s sixth Tubaween. She said in past years she has directed a few of the shows.
“Recent Tubaweens have included a lot of pop culture,” Linehand said. “We’ve done ‘The Little Mer-tuba,’ ‘The Lord of the Tubas,’ even ‘Tuba-vengers.'”
There are numerous other activities offered late on Halloween night, so Tubaween is held earlier tonight, at 6:30 p.m. Performers said they want Tubaween to serve as a fun precursor to whatever other plans students have for the rest of the night.
“We’re getting the party started,” said second-year Tubaween participant Cherish Armstrong. “It’ll be short and sweet and it’ll be hilarious.”
Admission for Tubaween is by donation, which, to most college students, translates as “free admission.” However, Tubaween is a key source of revenue for students, providing funds to support them in their learning and performing endeavors. Donations help pay for a trip to the Northwest Euphonium Tuba Conference in Boise this spring. Third-year Tubaween performer Christian Mata encouraged those who attend the event to contribute.
“It’s a great way to show that we’re a studio and we exist. So support us so that we can buy things to better our program,” Mata said.
Tubaween is more than a simple fundraiser, or a means to provide an audience with a great time on Halloween night. The students who participate in Tubaween believe it has brought them closer together.
“I love the degree of excellence we’ve started putting into it,” said fourth-year participant Chris Johnson. “I hope Tubaween keeps getting better and better. It brings the studio together as a family.”
If you are unable to make the live show, it can also be viewed online through live streaming at new.livestream.com/accounts/5947988/events/3475995.
Lyndsie Kiebert can be reached at [email protected]