NIU music students will rock around the Christmas tree this afternoon in the 18th annual “It’s a Low Brass Christmas.”

The concert will begin at noon at the Music Building’s Concert Hall lobby.

“This is a traditional performance of Christmas carols that the low brass trombone and tuba players play before Thanksgiving,” said trombone professor Katherine Stubbins-Benitez.

An ensemble of 15 to 18 NIU students will perform in the concert.

“All of my trombone students and [Associate Music Professor] Charlie Schuchat’s tuba students will be performing,” Stubbins-Benitez said. “Both he and I will be conducting the concert.”

Participation in this event is volunteer-oriented.

“Everybody wants to do this because it’s a camaraderie event to celebrate the holiday and celebrate low brass,” Stubbins-Benitez said.

The prominence of low brass around the holidays relates to when the Salvation Army performed in low brass quartets downtown, Stubbins-Benitez said.

“Low brass is very festive, and people always like to hear it around the holidays,” she said. “Trombone players usually like to perform in ensembles anyways, so it’s been a nice tradition, and we usually have a good turnout.”