Music spotlight: Meridian Community Band

Chances are, John Philip Sousa never worked with a rock drummer. This year's annual "Grand Sousa Concert," however, will do that.
That's Ted Atkatz, who recently made a big change at 31: He went from the Chicago symphony to his own rock-pop group, NYCO.

"He started with the Chicago symphony when he was very young," said Joel Lowery, of the Meridian band. "He was principal percussionist for eight years."

"You have to go for it when you still have the energy," Atkatz told the Chicago Tribune.
Lowery has had a close-up view of this. He's a retiree, 71, who has been taking the train to Chicago once every two weeks to study with Atkatz.

When Atkatz left the symphony, the Meridian band booked him as a soloist.
This will be the 13th annual Sousa concert. It will have all the expected touches, including "Stars and Stripes Forever," "Washington Post March" and "Fairest of the Fair"; it will also have mezzo-soprano Corey Rivera, plus Atkatz doing a xylophone solo on "Carnival of Venice.

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Atkatz grew up in the Queens section of New York, a kid who studied liner notes of music albums. After getting a music degree from Boston University, he was a teacher and grad student, then landed the Chicago symphony job.
What: Meridian Community Band concert, with Ted Atkatz soloing on xylophone.

When: 3 p.m. Sunday.

Tickets: $10 at the door, $8 in advance (from band members), free for students.