William Bell (tuba player)

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William Bell (Dec. 25,1902-1971)^[1] was the premier tuba player and teacher of tuba in America during the first half of the Twentieth Century. From 1924 to 1937, William Bell served as Principal Tuba with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. In 1921 He joined the band of John Philip Sousa. In 1937, General Electric's David Sarnoff invited conductor Arturo Toscanini to select personnel for The NBC Symphony Orchestra^[2]. William Bell was the third musician selected by Toscanini, after his concertmaster Mischa Mischakoff and principal oboe Philip Ghignatti. In 1943 he became principal tubist for the New York Philharmonic.^[3] Leopold Stokowski invited Bell to perform and narrate George Kleinsinger's "Tubby the Tuba" (song), and to perform and sing a special arrangement of When Yuba Plays The Rhumba on the Tuba. In 1955 Bell performed the American premiere of Ralph Vaughan Williams' Concerto for Bass Tuba and Orchestra. He was professor of tuba at Indiana University from 1961 until 1971. Some of his notable students include Harvey Phillips and R. Winston Morris.

Under the auspices of the Harvey Phillips Foundation, thousands of tubists worldwide join together each December at local TubaChristmas events in honor of not only the season, but of the life and teaching of Bill Bell. Usually played at these events is an arrangement of the Bach chorale "Komm Susser Tod" (Come Sweet Death), Bell's favorite chorale.