Culture
‘Under the Elms’ Celebrates 70th Anniversary This Summer
< < Back toThe “Under the Elms” Summer Concert Series will present five free concerts this summer, beginning Wednesday, May 31, and continuing each consecutive week until Wednesday, June 28. Each of these outdoor concerts begin at 7 p.m. on the College Green adjacent to Templeton-Blackburn Alumni Memorial Auditorium.
The “Under the Elms” Concert Band, or “Communiversity Band,” is comprised of Ohio University faculty, students, and alumni, as well as community members from Athens and surrounding communities. The ensemble rehearses one night a week prior to each performance. The Music Director and Principal Conductor of “Under the Elms” is Ohio University’s Director of Bands, Dr. Andrew Trachsel.
This year’s series features a variety of guest soloists and conductors: Command Sergeant Major (ret.) Mitchell D. Spray, a former trombonist and Drum Major of the United States Army Band “Pershing’s Own” and a 1981 alumnus of Ohio University, will be the featured soloist on the June 14 concert, along with the Ohio University School of Music Horn Studio, and members of the OHIO Summer Music Camp. There will be many additional trombone soloists throughout the summer, including newly-minted Ohio University alumni Erich Haller and Dylan Chase on June 7, and faculty members Lucas Rego Borges and Joe Brown on June 21. The series opens and closes with perennial favorites: music from the stage and screen on May 31 and patriotic music on June 28.
Any area musician who is interested in participating as an ensemble member in the Communiversity Band is welcome to contact Andrew Trachsel at trachsel@ohio.edu or 740-593-1670.
All of these events, generously supported by the College of Fine Arts, are open to all and free to the public. In the event of rain, concerts will be held in Templeton-Blackburn Alumni Memorial Auditorium. Attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs, blankets, and picnics to the concerts.
UNDER the ELMS Summer Concert Series: 70th Anniversary Season
May 31 STRIKE UP THE BAND | Music for Stage and Screen
June 7 BE OUR GUEST | Dylan Chase & Erich Haller, trombone and Guest Band Directors
June 14 ANNIVERSARIES | Mitchell Spray, Command Sgt. Maj. (ret.) of The United States Army Band “Pershing’s Own”, trombone, the OHIO Horn Studio, and the OHIO Summer Music Camp
June 21 TROMBONE-PALOOZA | Lucas Rego Borges & Joe Brown, trombone
June 28 CELEBRATE AMERICA! | Annual Independence Day Observation Concert