Culture
Under the Elms Concert Series Returns June 5
< < Back toThe UNDER the ELMS Summer Concert Series will present five free concerts this summer, beginning Wednesday, June 5, and continuing each consecutive week until Wednesday, July 3. Each of these outdoor concerts begin at 7 p.m. on the College Green adjacent to Templeton-Blackburn Alumni Memorial Auditorium.
The Communiversity Band is comprised of Ohio University faculty, students and alumni, as well as community members from Athens and the surrounding region. 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.
All of these events, generously supported by Ohio University and 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.
SCHEDULE
June 5: Favorites
Featuring several audience and musician favorites, this concert will also highlight a trio of anniversaries that occur in the summer of 2019: Ohio composer Lisa Galvin’s Blaze the Trail is programmed to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the United States Senate voting to pass the 19th Amendment on June 4, 1919; John Williams’s Hymn to the Fallen from the movie Saving Private Ryan recognizes the 75th anniversary of the Allied Forces D-Day invasion of Normandy on June 6, 1944; and on a lighter note, Abbey Road: A Symphonic Portrait marks the 50th anniversary of The Beatles’ landmark final studio recording.
June 12: Raise the Curtain: Music from Stage and Screen
This concert will continue an audience-favorite theme of presenting music from movies and theater. Included will be music by Leonard Bernstein, Alan Silvestri, John Philip Sousa, Richard Wagner, John Williams, and Meredith Willson. Listen for music from The Avengers, James Bond films, Star Wars, West Side Story, and much more.
June 19: Collaboration Concert with Muskingum Valley Symphonic Winds
The Communiversity Band will share this concert with the Muskingum Valley Symphonic Winds, a community band conducted by Dr. David Turrill, Director of Bands at Muskingum University. Also featured on this concert will be Dr. William Talley, who is the newly-appointed Interim Director of Bands at Ohio University beginning this fall.
June 26: Children’s Concert
To commemorate the 40th Anniversary of the Athens Community Music School, the Communiversity Band will present a concert featuring child-friendly favorites, including music from the Harry Potter films, Yellow Submarine, Moana, and The Lion King. The Athens Community Music School will also offer special events surrounding this concert, including an instrument petting zoo. The participants of the annual Summer Band Camp will also perform as part of the Communiversity Band.
July 3: Celebrate America!
In recognition of Independence Day, this annual highlight features patriotic favorites.