By day, Principal Chris Collaros walks the halls at Upper Arlington’s Wickliffe Progressive Community School, guiding students as they grow and learn.
But on certain evenings, he can be found schooling Central Ohio in rock ‘n’ roll.
Collaros plays and sings with his band, Principally Speaking, which also includes former Wickliffe principal Fred Burton. Collaros and Burton have been friends for almost 20 years. They met when they both worked at Granby Elementary School in Worthington in 1990.
“Even then, from time to time, we would do a little playing together in the school setting for kids, and even for teachers,” Collaros says.
Principally Speaking, the original band which consisted of Collaros and Burton only, began informally in the summer of 2003. Carolyn Delp, Collaros’ sister-in-law and director of marketing for Cameron Mitchell Restaurants, asked the duo to play a few patio gigs at the Cap City Diner on Olentangy River Road. The two educators agreed and have played there every summer since.
Principally Speaking soon incorporated Tim Holmberg, a parent of children at Liberty Elementary School in Worthington where Collaros was formerly the principal.
“He and I and the PTA president at the time once did a quickly thrown-together gig for a fundraiser at Liberty. Fred and I asked him to join us shortly thereafter in Principally Speaking, because he sings some beautiful harmonies and is an excellent bassist,” Collaros says.
Principally Speaking – Collaros, Burton and Holmberg – sometimes becomes “Principally Speaking A+,” when the band adds two more group members to make a bigger ensemble. These musicians are drummer Craig Kight – a long-time friend and member of Collaros’ former band in Mount Vernon – and Drew Wade, a Wickliffe parent and keyboardist/vocalist.
“Drew is an incredible musician. In fact, Fred and I joke that the only real musicians in the band are the non-principals,” Collaros says.
Principally Speaking A+ is strictly a cover band. The group plays rock ‘n’ roll originally recorded in the 1960s and ‘70s, with a set list that includes the Allman Brothers, the Beatles, Creedence Clearwater Revival, the Grateful Dead, Van Morrison, Neil Young and Bob Dylan.
“We try to include a nice balance of dance, deep tracks and favorites. One of my favorite things to have happen is being approached by someone who says, ‘Wow. I’ve never heard a band cover that one,’” Collaros says.
Due to the demands that come with running a school, rehearsal time is rather limited for these musicians. Burton, Collaros and Holmberg will work together to perfect new songs if necessary, and the Kight and Wade are practiced at improvisation.
“Craig and Drew are so good they can just go with the flow if we give them a heads up that we’re going to try this or that,” Collaros says. “Sometimes, they don’t even get a heads up. That’s part of the fun.”
Fortunately, their regular performances fit well within their teaching schedules, as most of their gigs take place over summer break. Principally Speaking’s most routine shows happen at The Cap City Diner most Monday nights during the summer. They also participate in the Friday night music event at the Kenyon Inn in Gambier several times each summer. Principally Speaking A+ also appears regularly at Mickey’s Bar at 1230 W. Fifth Ave. near Grandview.
Last November, Principally Speaking A+ performed at the Wickliffe Informal Affair, the Wickliffe PTO’s annual primary fundraiser which raises money for teacher grants and other programs. The group played an hour-long set which concluded with the Wickliffe staff joining in for The Band’s The Weight. Collaros says the event was a huge success, and the Wickliffe community has always been very supportive of the band.
For its public gigs, Collaros says Principally Speaking will resume its Cap City Diner appearances when summer returns. Principally Speaking A+ will next appear in public Jan. 22 at Mickey’s Bar. For more information, call Mickey’s at 614-488-3566.
Anastasia Glogowski is a contributing writer for Upper Arlington Magazine.