f your family is looking for something different to do this Halloween, one option is the 10th annual Halloween concert presented by NIU’s School of Music.

The concerts will be held at 6 and 8 p.m. today at the Music Building’s Boutell Memorial Concert Hall. The concerts are catered toward family audiences.

“It’s very open to children,” said Lynn Slater, coordinator of admissions for the School of Music. “If this is the first experience for children coming to a classical concert, it’s good because it’s a shorter concert and it’s more geared toward fun.”

Audience members are encouraged to dress up for the event like the performers. Different sections of the orchestra will be dressed up in theme.

“One year we had a section dress up as the Brady Bunch,” Slater said.

Everyone who attends will have the opportunity to trick or treat for a half-hour before the concerts, at 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. Students and faculty members will distribute free candy.

Between the two shows, the American Choral Directors Association will sing festive Halloween carols to entertain families. The carols will be renditions of Christmas songs with haunted lyrics.

“It’s a fun thing that we’re doing and it shows the community that we’re out there and like to take part in events,” said Michael Flanagan, a junior music education major and president of NIU’s ACDA chapter.

This year’s program will include a variety of selections, including Dukas’ “Sorcerers Apprentice” from the Disney movie “Fantasia,” Wagner’s “The Ride of the Valkyries,” Saint Saen’s “Danse Macabre” and Grieg’s “Hall of the Mountain King from Peer Gynt Suite No. 1.”

The highlight of the event will be the premiere of NIU student Matt Novak’s composition “Persephone’s Abduction by Hades.” There also will be a special appearance by the NIU Steel Band ensemble.

Students and faculty are looking forward to the event.

“I think it’s going to be exciting, funny and scary at times,” said Kristin Glidden, a senior music education major and a member of the percussion section of the concert. “It’s full of surprises and there’s a variety in the music being played.”

The Halloween concert is open to all. For information, call Slater at 753-1546.