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OcTUBAfest


The warm, vibrant tones of the tuba rang out across the Weiss Center during the 24th-annual OcTUBAfest. The event, which offers the largest brass instrument a rare moment in the spotlight, was held in conjunction with Carlisle's annual Harvest of the Arts Festival.

Held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., the festival featured the Hot House Jazz Trio, Pride of Susquehanna Band and Messiah College Faculty Brass. But the stars of the show, of course, were the members of the Keystone Tuba Ensemble.

"The festival was fun for the performers and audience," says OcTUBAfest founder Eric Henry, contributing faculty member at Dickinson, who notes that the program included much-loved jazz and classical pieces as well as lesser-known works by contemporary composers. "The performances and performers represented the best quality available in our region."

Dickinsonians and community members stopped by to listen to the tuba-centric music as they strolled through the Harvest of the Arts Festival. Held on the first three blocks of West High Street, the festival included 175 vendors and live performances. 


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  • OcTUBAfest founder Eric Henry performs with fellow tuba players. Henry is the Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra's principal tuba player.
  • Tuba players (from left) Eric Henry, Ted Cramer, Krista Heslop, George DeMers, Justin Myers, Kevin Moore and Joe Cartwright demonstrate why tuba is king at OcTUBAfest. 
  • From left: Vanessa Shenk, Mike Clayville, Eric Henry, Mike Harcrow and Bill Stowman perform for the crowd. 
  • Vanessa Shenk and Mike Clayville prove that OcTUBAfest isn't tuba-exclusive. 
  • Bill Stowman takes a solo.  
  • Tuba player Eric Henry, clarinetist Paul Butler and guitarist Jim Smith lay out a tune. 
OcTUBAfest founder Eric Henry performs with fellow tuba players. Henry is the Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra's principal tuba player. Prev ImageNext Image