Under the Elms Summer Concert Series kicks off 2018 season on June 6

A 71-year tradition resumes the first week of June on Ohio University’s historic College Green with the first performance in the annual Under the Elms Summer Concert Series. 

One of OHIO’s signature summer events, this free five-week outdoor concert series showcases the talents of the Communiversity Band, composed of current Ohio University students and alumni, current and retired faculty members, as well as community members from Athens and the surrounding area. Leading this group of musicians is Ohio University Director of Bands Andrew Trachsel, who serves as music director and conductor for the Communiversity Band.

The 2018 season of the Under the Elms Summer Concert Series kicks off June 6 and will include five performances held at 7 p.m. every Wednesday, June 6 through July 4, on the College Green adjacent to OHIO’s Templeton-Blackburn Alumni Memorial Auditorium. In the event of inclement weather, the concerts will be moved inside the auditorium.

Concert series details are still in the works, but include:

• June 6 – Featuring retired Command Sgt. Maj. Mitchell Spray, former drum major of the United States Army Band “Pershing’s Own,” as guest conductor
• June 20 – Featuring Dr. Shelby Chipman, director of bands at Florida A&M University, as guest conductor and showcasing high school brass, woodwind and percussion students enrolled in the OHIO Summer Band Camp
• June 27 – Featuring trumpet soloists John Schlabach and Josh Nightingale

The series will culminate with a Fourth of July patriotic “Celebrate America!” performance.

The Under the Elms Summer Concert Series is hosted by Ohio University’s College of Fine Arts, the School of Music and Ohio University Bands with support from Arts for OHIO.