For Victoria musician Scott MacInnes the holiday season starts with a mass gathering of baritone brass performing spectacular Christmas arrangements in Market Square.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 become somewhat of a kickstart for the season for a lot of people,B次元官网网址� the director of the annual Tuba Christmas told the Victoria B次元官网网址.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 not very often that you see more than one tuba in a spot B次元官网网址� The sound that it creates, itB次元官网网址檚 almost, you can feel it because itB次元官网网址檚 such a low rumbly tone. B次元官网网址� ItB次元官网网址檚 just a unique experience for everyone.B次元官网网址�

Tuba Christmas was established in Victoria by the late Eugene Dowling, a musical mentor who succumbed to cancer in June 2015.

In recent years itB次元官网网址檚 led by those who admired him and his legacy, with MacInnes guiding the music since last year.

So far, itB次元官网网址檚 been a lot of work, but the non-monetary reward is as big. The annual gathering has, at times, brought together more than 150 tuba and euphonium playersB次元官网网址攇enerally dressed in their finest or silliest holiday garbB次元官网网址攆rom across the region.

During the show, volunteers gather donations while the audience stuffs cash into an old tuba set up on a stand. The funds raisedB次元官网网址攇enerally in the range of $1,500 to $3,000B次元官网网址攕upport the Times Colonist Christmas Fund.

The performers also register and pay to play, with fees going to the Harvey Phillips Foundation, named for the founder of Tuba Christmas.

B次元官网网址淚t just became this thing and Gene, who started it here was involved in some of the earliest versions of it in the States,B次元官网网址� MacInnes said.

While in his second year leading here, MacInnes is not new to Tuba ChristmasB次元官网网址攈e first participated in Toronto more than two decades ago and joined the local holiday showcase as soon as he moved west around 2005.

Now in its 46th year, the Victoria version is nearly as old as its inspiration, starting in New York City in 1974. Concerts now take place in more than 200 cities worldwide.

In Victoria, the gathering brings out a diverse group from professional musicians to people who have been playing just this year or those who dust off a tuba or euphonium once a year for the event.

B次元官网网址淭heyB次元官网网址檙e not even brass players, theyB次元官网网址檙e just musicians and will beg borrow or steal an instrument to come out,B次元官网网址� MacInnes said. B次元官网网址淭he commitment to it is quite incredible. Victoria is the most active Tuba Christmas in Canada IB次元官网网址檓 pretty sure.B次元官网网址�

Tuba Christmas is Dec. 14 from 1 to 3 p.m. in Market Square, 560 Johnson St.