Tuba Christmas 2019 has raised more than $4,300 for the Times Colonist Christmas Fund.
“The unofficial grand total is $4,345.15,” said conductor Paul Beauchesne, principal tubist with the Victoria Symphony. “It’s astounding generosity to collect that much money in that period of time.”
The annual concert featured an impromptu band of more than 100 musicians young and old playing traditional Christmas carols on tubas, baritones, euphoniums and sousaphones in Market Square for a couple of hours last Saturday.
People dropped money into a tuba at the front of the stage and into donation bags that were circulated through the crowd, collecting loonies, toonies, 10s, 20s and even $50 bills and a few cheques, Beauchesne said.
Over the years, the concerts have raised close to $60,000. Last year, Tuba Christmas raised a record $3,000.
“The number of musicians was a little lower than last year, which was our 40th anniversary,” said Beauchesne. “But we were still more than 100 and I’m glad it went really well.”
A video stream has had more than 10,000 views and tons of photos are floating around on social media, he said.
Donate to the Times Colonist Christmas Fund
• Go to timescolonist.com/donate. That takes you to the Canada Helps website, which is open 24 hours a day and provides an immediate tax receipt.
• Mail a cheque, payable to Times Colonist Christmas Fund Society, to the Times Colonist Christmas Fund, 2621 Douglas St., Victoria, B.C. V8T 4M2.
• Use your credit card by phoning 250-995-4438 between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday to Friday. Outside those hours, leave a message, we’ll call back.
