A summer concert series in Athens fosters community and connection through music “under the elms”
By: Talia Milewich
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ATHENS, OH (WOUB) — The Communiversity Band played the opening concert of this year’s “Under the Elms” series last Thursday and sitting under the elm trees over an hour before the show began was Metra Peterson and her father, Robert Smith.
Smith, who founded the annual concert series, shows up each year with support for the band and the generations that followed him, even at 94. His daughter took on the family tradition and has been a part of the band since 1978.
She was also able to pass this down another generation and share the concert experience with her own child years ago. “My son really enjoyed sitting on the podium during the concert. He would sit there and conduct during the concerts,” Peterson said.
Performing with Peterson was another longtimer, Pete Couladis, who has been playing with the band for 42 summers.
“I asked a few people if it was OK if I was a high school student to play, and they said sure, and I’ve been doing it ever since,” Couladis said.
This tradition continues, with some members of the band playing for the first time this summer from area high schools.
Loyalty to the concert series goes beyond the musicians. Some audience members have tied the summer concerts into their own yearly traditions.
John King was one of many loyal audience members and has enjoyed the music every summer for 10 years now.
“My son and his family will be joining me here shortly; my wife will be joining me a little bit later. It’s a good place to meet people,” King said.
Halfway through the first performance, the conductor recognized its members based on time in the band. Many were in their first year and a large group of participants were in the five to 20-year range.
As the numbers grew fewer people stood. “There’s a few of the old timers that are still here, but it’s just a lot of fun,” Couladis said.
He and Peterson were the last two standing.