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When it comes to band, the tuba is rarely in the spotlight. But once a year, just before Christmas, it’s all about the bass.

Twenty-eight tuba players ages 11 to 78 gathered at Oak Park Mall Saturday to have their turn playing the melody as part of Austin’s second Merry Tuba Christmas.

“It’s a great opportunity for the high school, middle school kids to get out and play and find out there’s more to tuba playing than just um-pas,” said Val Pitzen, an Austin Parks, Recreation and Forestry employee who helped bring Tuba Christmas to Austin last year.

Players from across the region came to play 13 Christmas carols for Austin’s second holiday tuba event, and the 28 players who showed up were a big jump from the 15 that played in 2010.

“The kids see that you can play for life,” Pitzen said.

One of those youngsters was 11-year-old Sam Borgerson. Being the youngest player, Borgerson said he was trying to listen to the more experienced players. He said some told him he could play more notes at a lower volume, as opposed to playing few notes more loudly.

The music was challenging for the younger performers. Borgerson said Tuba Christmas was harder than playing in the band at Ellis Middle School. Along with only having the morning to rehearse as a group, Borgerson said the two baritone parts and two tuba parts made the songs more difficult.

“There’s a lot of different rhythms going down at once,” he said.

After the concert, Borgerson paused for a photo with the oldest performer: former Austin band director David Kallman, who turned 79 Sunday.

“It’s really a blast,” Kallman said.

Before playing the first Tuba Christmas in Austin, Kallman said he saw a performance with 150 tubas in Texas. He hopes Austin could some day rival that number.

Kallman, a band director of 38 years, said he can play multiple instruments, but the tuba ranks highly on his list.

“The tuba is one of my favorites, but it’s getting heavier,” Kallman said, adding that he hopes to play many more Tuba Christmases.

Director Jane Orvik said experienced performers like Kallman are positive role models.

“It’s wonderful for young kids to see that older people enjoy making music and that you can do it all your life,” Orvik said. “It’s a good lesson for them.”

Sam, 12-year-old Jakob Crouch and 13-year-old Nathan Drees said they hope they’ll be playing when they turn 79.

Bev Vangsness, of Adams, said events like this help students become more interested in music.

Vangseth said Tuba Christmas is a chance for bass players to play the melody.

“You don’t usually get all bass instruments playing the melody,” Vangsness said.

Just because tubas don’t get the melody doesn’t mean they’re not good musicians, Orvick said.

“Tuba players must be really good musicians to keep a band going,” he said.

Orvik described Tuba Christmas as their time in the limelight and a time to enjoy the holiday season.

“We have all ages, and isn’t that what Christmas is all about,” Orvick said.