October 5, 2015—It’s back! On Sunday, Oct. 25, the University of Oregon School of Music and Dance will present the fifth annual Halloween SpookTastic! low brass concert, an annual, family-friendly event in which UO student performers on trombone, tuba, and euphonium will appear in costume, joining forces to perform spooky (but not scary) family favorites.

 

The SpookTastic! concert will take place in Aasen-Hull Hall (room 190) of the Frohnmayer Music Building on the UO campus, starting at 6:30 p.m., a special early start time so kids can get to bed. Admission is free. Children (and maybe even parents!) are encouraged to attend in costume, and to enjoy renditions of Tim Burton’s “This is Halloween” from the animated film The Nightmare Before Christmas, as well as J.S. Bach’s Toccata and Fugue.

 

The concert will also include a high-energy, family-friendly version of Michael Jackson’s “Thriller.”

 

“This is a great way for parents to introduce kids to classical music,” remarked UO trombone professor Henry Henniger. “We love teaching small kids about brass instruments, and it’s always fun to see the ingenuity the college students invest in creating their costumes,” he added.

 

Over the years, Henniger’s own costumes have ranged from a ghost, to a pumpkin-head, to the cartoon warrior He-Man. Each year Henniger leads a combined ensemble of cowboys, superheroes, and monsters in playing some of classical music’s beloved Halloween standards.

 

As with last year’s event, kids will enjoy the musical tale of Boney Bones, a lonely trombone who wants to go trick-or-treating. UO student musicians will act out the original story poem in costume and with instruments. Boney Bones just might have some candy for the children, as well!

 

UO musical ensembles that will perform as part of the Halloween SpookTastic! event will include the UO Trombone Choir, Tuba-Euphonium Ensemble, and Apocalyptic Brass.