With its annual autumn concert falling on Halloween Thursday, Oct. 31, this year, the KSC Concert Band performed the Music Department’s first Halloween Concert in the Redfern Arts Center’s Main Stage.
While KSC Concert Band performs an autumn concert every year, the timing of the show inspired Associate Professor of Music and Concert Band Director Dr. John Hart to take the opportunity to give this year’s performance a Halloween theme, according to Hart. The concert included two costume contests, one for band members and one for audience members.
The musical lineup for the evening consisted of five arrangements described by Hart as “spooky and darker than what the band normally does.”
The band performed “Prelude, Op.34, No. 14” by Dmitri Shostakovich, “Night on the Bare Mountain” by Modest Mussorgsky, “Haunted Objects: Tsukumogami” by John Mackey, “Danse Macabre” by Camille Saint-Saëns and “In the Hall of the Mountain King” by Edvard Grieg.
Hart, who conducted the concert dressed as Indiana Jones, said the pieces are challenging to perform and highlighted the work that went into getting the concert on stage.
“These can be very intimidating pieces for any performer, and I don’t think people started off believing they were going to be able to learn and hone it,” said Hart.
“I knew they could, and I knew that they’d surprise themselves in terms of what they are capable of,” added Hart.
The concert is one of three that KSC Concert Band performs throughout the year, with two more slated to happen during the winter and spring. Hart said the band is open to students and community members alike, and all are welcome to audition regardless of major.
“We have community members, students from a wide variety of degree programs, and different walks of life,” said Hart.
“As long as you audition and demonstrate sufficient musical ability, you can be a part of what we do. Music is for everyone, and we want to give as many people as we can the chance to perform because music is really the birthright of everyone,” added Hart.
Hart conducted a majority of the arrangements, and senior Victoria Young conducted the opening number by Shostakovich. Young performed in the percussion section for the rest of the show, but kicked off the show by conducting her fellow band members.
“It’s a very surreal experience because I have to provide feedback to my own peers, and that’s been an interesting dynamic to learn how to navigate and step into a leadership role,” said Young.
Young has taken conducting classes in the past, and said she enjoys the new dimension of challenges that come with it.
“I’ve really enjoyed it, and I’m definitely going to do this again next semester,” said Young.
“I have weekly lessons with Dr. Hart where we go over what I want to work on with the group during rehearsals, and a lot of it is also just standing in front of the mirror and trying to make sure that the narrative in my head and the emotions I want to hear are being shown when I’m on the stage conducting,” added Young.
Sophomore Killian Bailey played trombone in the concert, and said preparing for the show has been a grueling, yet rewarding process.
“It’s an intensive process, and some days are obviously better than others, but it’s been a labor of love,” said Bailey.
“We’ve been working on this since the beginning of the semester, and I’m really proud of how far we’ve all come, and I’m excited for audiences to see the finished product onstage,” added Bailey.
Claire Markey won the audience costume contest, dressed as Barbie. Markey came to support her granddaughter, junior Sophia Markey, who played tenor saxophone in the concert.
“We come all the time to the concerts, and it’s always so much fun to see such a talented group,” said Claire Markey.
Ryan Pacheco can be contacted at
rpacheco@kscequinox.com
