Elisabeth von Trapp is proud of her amazing relatives and their musical accomplishments, but she also is justly proud of her own.

The talented guitarist, pianist and vocalist will perform at 8 tonight at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 605 Reynolds St., as part of the Westobou Festival.

As with her famous relatives, the von Trapp Family Singers immortalized in The Sound of Music, Ms. von Trapp's concerts mix classical, Broadway, original and other musical forms.

She loves to collect stories about the touring days of her grandparents and their children, who included Ms. von Trapp's father, Werner ("Kurt" in the stage and movie versions).

Her stepgrandmother, Baroness Maria Kutschera von Trapp, performed in Augusta's Bell Auditorium with six of her daughters as The Trapp Family Singers in 1946.

She treasures the memories of her relatives, including Maria, who died in 1987.

"I constantly meet people who actually heard them sing and who are thrilled to connect with my own singing," Ms. von Trapp said in a telephone interview from her Vermont home. "I think songs have a wonderful way of empowering the audience; to go back home and live life a little more fully or get more involved with their community to make a difference. I do a lot fundraising to help communities, and I sing to support the vision of others."

Ms. von Trapp said her family didn't just flee from Nazi-ruled Austria over the Alps to Italy, work their way to America and live happily ever after, singing folk songs and spirituals.

"When they got here, they were so homesick for Austria that they tried to figure out how they could stay in touch with their family and friends," Ms. von Trapp said. "That's why, after the war, they formed the Trapp Family Austrian Relief Inc. organization. They sent I don't know how many thousands and thousands of pounds of food and clothing, along with money to help rebuild Austria."

Two of the von Trapp sons, including Ms. von Tapp's father, joined the U.S. Army and went back to Europe to fight the Nazis.

"He was with the 10th Mountain Division, and they were in Italy fighting many battles. ... My father had done a lot of hiking in his youth and knew the region well. When he finally saw the movie version (of The Sound of Music), in the '60s, and watched the family fleeing over the mountain, he looked up at this enormous screen and said in a loud whisper to my mother, 'That's not the way. That will take them back to Germany!' "

Don Rhodes has written about country music for 38 years. He can be reached at (706) 823-3214 or at don.rhodes@morris.com.