On the eve of Halloween, the Boutell Concert Hall overflowed with brightly dressed spectators and terrifying tunes of the past.
The Kishwaukee Symphony Orchestra held their annual Halloween concert at 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Wednesday and played various spooky tunes from different pieces of media.
The entrance of the Boutell Hall was decorated with all manner of Halloween-themed decorations. The hall itself was filled with audience members clad in costumes, abuzz about the concert to come.
The stage was adorned with various skeletons and spiders, with frightening pumpkins and cauldrons lining the edge of the stage.
As the time for the orchestra to begin drew near and the rows of the concert hall were slowly filled, the infamous theme from the “Ghostbusters” franchise was heard through the speakers. A lone figure dressed in ghost hunting gear walked onto the stage, searching for any ghosts in the Boutell Hall that might interfere with the show.
The figure in question, David Lehman, served as the announcer to greet the audience and to welcome the members of the orchestra onstage.
As Lehman called each section of the orchestra and they moved from the front door through the audience, it was revealed that they too were wearing costumes they would be performing in.
Their costumes included mad scientists, grumpy old men, garden gnomes, the emotions from the “Inside Out” franchise, barn animals, witches and wizards, hippies, olympic participants and the Dark Knight himself. The percussion section opted for a different holiday and wore ugly Christmas sweaters.
The costumed musicians even interacted with the crowd as they moved to the stage while still staying in character.
Lehman commented how he loved watching everyone show off their costumes to the audience each year.
“This is the one concert where we get to show off a different side of the orchestra,” Lehman said. “Being able to show our entrances and costumes every year is something else.”
The symphony kicked off with a ferocious mix of horror and musical prowess as the musicians of the Kishwaukee Symphony Orchestra locked in to deliver a mix of whimsical and bone-chilling songs.
Led by Music Director Linc Smelser, the orchestra performed various tunes such as “Night on Bald Mountain,” “Incantations,” the theme from the “The Dark Knight,” “Aunt Marge’s Waltz” from the Harry Potter franchise, the theme from “Halloween,” “Rosin Eating Zombies from Outer Space” and “Duel of the Fates” from “Star Wars: The Phantom Menace.”
During an intermission between “Aunt Marge’s Waltz” and “Rosin Eating Zombies from Outer Space,” the members of the orchestra demonstrated how certain infamous horror sound effects are made on instruments.
Smelser loved seeing everyone from kids to adults tune in to watch the performance.
“It was great and we usually get a good turnout,” Smelser said. “We really appreciate the community for its support and we couldn’t do it without them.”
For audience members that wish to watch their performance again or for those who missed it, the concert can be viewed on the official NIU School of Music YouTube channel.
