'In Memory' reflects on life, death

Five months after University of Findlay Director of Bands Wes King's mother was killed in a mass shooting, Wes will conduct a concert on the theme of grief and loss. On Sept. 23, 2021, a lone gunman entered a Kroger in Collierville, Tennessee. "Employees and customers alike were attacked, leaving over a dozen wounded physically, many more wounded emotionally, and one woman dead," a UF press release states. Olivia King was that woman. The concert "is a eulogy of her life and a reflection on how she lived," the press release states. UF's Symphonic Band and Wind Ensemble will perform the concert titled "In Memory" at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at the Marathon Center for the Performing Arts. The symphonic band consists of community members, as well as students. The wind ensemble is a student group open by audition. Wes King said the concert is "definitely a reflection of what happened to my mother." Every piece selected has a connection to Olivia. But it's also more generally about "death and grief … but eventual acceptance and peace," King said. He asked the performers if they wished to dedicate their performance to someone they had lost, as many students have lost parents, grandparents, aunts or uncles during the pandemic. 'There with Jesus' Wes King was in a meeting at the university on Sept. 23 when a stranger called from his mother's phone. It turned out that — while the shooting was still going on — the caller, and others at the scene, tried to apply pressure to Olivia's wounds, and got out her phone. They stayed until the paramedics arrived. "They could have easily run," Wes said. "Nobody would have blamed them." He gathered his family and they got on the road. On their way to Tennessee, they found out that Olivia had died. Wes and his wife and children had previously spent two years in the Memphis area helping Olivia through health concerns. "My wife took the kids to that Kroger," he said. Olivia was eventually diagnosed with normal pressure hydrocephalus, which Wes described as a treatable form of dementia. Had it been caught earlier, she would have had a better recovery, but she did recover somewhat and was "relatively independent," he said. She could drive, and go to church. That's what she was doing the day she died. Olivia went to Mass, and "she went to Burger King afterward, like she liked to do." Then she went to Kroger. Wes said she was at the age where she liked to go to the store just to see people. He isn't sure she even needed many groceries that day. Thursday's concert will open with the symphonic band playing a mariachi piece "Guadalajara," by Pepe Guizar. Wes noted that his mother is of Mexican heritage and was the daughter of immigrants. And, as he didn't want it to be a "dirge of a concert," the performers are opening with a piece that is "upbeat." Next is a setting of Franz Schubert's "Ave Maria." It is followed by a movie medley including selections from films such as "Singin' in the Rain," "The Wizard of Oz," "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly," and "2001: A Space Odyssey." Olivia loved to go to the movies, Wes said. Her favorite films included Westerns and the classics, but she didn't limit herself to these. "She would go and see all the Marvel movies," he said. The first half of the concert will end with a setting of "Were You There?" by Fred Allen. Wes noted that it's also referred to as "Were You There (When They Crucified My Lord)." "That's part of what she was doing, her last day on Earth. She went to Mass. … She was there," Wes said. That morning, Olivia was "there with Jesus," Wes said. "My fervent hope is that, that afternoon, she was there with Jesus." 'Talk about what happened' After intermission, the wind ensemble will play. Wes' uncle and cousin had a band playing Tejano music. This, Wes explained, is a genre specific to Texas, with similarities to polka. Wes has arranged a selection of his uncle's song "Los Caracoles," and said he is eager to give new life to his uncle and his music. Next, Carol Dusdieker, director of the School of Music and Theatre at Heidelberg University, will sing Eric Whitacre's "Goodnight Moon." This is followed by "Who's Who in Navy Blue?" by John Philip Sousa. "My mom loved being a Navy wife," Wes said, and was "famous in the squadrons" for bringing home-cooked Mexican food to parties. Wes' older brother followed their father's footsteps into the Navy, while his younger brother joined the Air Force. His grandfather served in World War II and some uncles also served. Wes said the piece of music will honor all veterans, but "specifically, we're honoring the Navy." Then comes "Into the Silent Land," by Steve Danyew. It was written about the 2012 shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. Since then, the piece has "taken on a life of its own" and has come to be linked to "mass shootings in general," Wes said. And, at one point, "it definitely builds to a moment of anger." Wes said that, while he doesn't intend to get into politics, "we are going to talk about what happened." For that reason, the concert comes with a content warning. The press release states that "While most UF concerts are family-friendly, due to the nature of tonight's thematic material, parents should use caution in attending tonight's In Memory concert with small children." "The fact of the matter is, this type of thing keeps happening," Wes said. The father of young children, he pointed out it's routine for schools to hold active shooter drills. He said he has heard all the arguments on both sides of the gun control issue, and doesn't necessarily disagree with them. "But I do disagree with our inaction," he said. He urged people to think about, "What if this was my child? What if this was my mother? What if this was my sister or my brother?" And, he said, people don't walk into a Kroger thinking it's their last day on Earth. 'After Life' For the final piece in the concert, the combined ensemble will perform "After Life" by Rossano Galante. Wes said the concert doesn't exactly go through the stages of grief in order. But, at this point, the musicians will make the transition from anger to acceptance. At most concerts, Wes speaks before each piece. This time, he will instead air prerecorded videos. Concertgoers will learn about Olivia. Olivia worked as a bookkeeper in various places, ending her career as the financial secretary at Collierville Elementary School. There, she strove to give back to the Hispanic community, befriending custodians and encouraging them to work on their English, and giving away clothing and furniture to those who needed it. Olivia was fluent in English, but Spanish was her first language. A native of Corpus Christi, Texas, she turned 70 shortly before her death. Wes hopes that attendees not only learn about Olivia, but "see something of their own dearly departed in my mother," that perhaps the music will "spark a good memory" of someone they have lost. Wes said music can tap into, or "unlock," something inside us, in a way that another person's kind words may not be able to when we are grieving. "Music speaks to a truth inside of ourselves," said Wes. As a person of faith, he said good music "helps us understand God." Tickets are not required for the concert. Doors will open one hour prior to showtime. Masks are encouraged but not required. Arthurs: 419-427-8494