TAMPA, Fla. —Why is there a group of musicians rehearsing for a concert in a library auditorium? Because Cliff Peshek brought them together.

“And can you imagine they let us play the tubas in the library,” he said, “That always struck me as a funny thing.”

Peshek is the organizer for the Bradenton TubaChristmas.

TubaChristmas happens throughout the country and even internationally. It’s a nearly 50-year-old tradition, started in 1974 at the ice rink at Rockafeller Plaza.

Now each Tuba Christmas event is different — 10 tubas players could show up. Or 50.

Peshek is shooting for somewhere in between those numbers.

Peshek himself plays the B flat tuba.

He says the instrument is an important part of any band or orchestra because they OWN the lowest tone.

“You really anchor a lot of the music and you feel like you kind of run the show on the tuba,” said Peshek. “So we like that.”

There were also other benefits for Marsha Juday - playing the euphonium, tuba family member.

“When I was coming along it was pretty much me and the guys, and I liked that,” she said, smiling, “still do.”

As a retired music educator, Juday hopes to hook people — especially children — with their joy of low brass.

For Peshek bringing the group together is as cool as the cheers from the crowds that inevitably gather.

“When you hear those chords- you are playing in tune—it’s – you make music come out of this crazy thing. It’s really satisfying,” he said.