Culture
OU School Of Music Presents Sixth Annual “Hallowpalooza”
By: Erica Molfetto
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The Ohio University School of Music will present “Hallowpalooza VI: An Arm and Allegro” on Oct. 30 at Templeton-Blackburn Memorial Auditorium.
This annual Halloween-themed concert will be held from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. with a special concert for area schoolchildren scheduled for 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Hallowpalooza is one of the largest holiday celebrations in Athens, providing a family-friendly alternative to the uptown Halloween activities.
The concerts are also an opportunity for Ohio University students and area residents to get a feel for the quality of work the School of Music contributes on campus every semester.
Steven Huang, director of orchestras, explains, “Hallowpalooza is a fun and clever concert, not your typical sit-there-and-be-silent type of show. It’s interactive.”
During the one-hour concert, the audience can expect to hear tunes from their favorite video games and Harry Potter movies as well as other musical selections.
In keeping with tradition, the Ohio University Symphony Orchestra will headline and close the concert. Classical music lovers can look forward to enjoying a spooky spin on Gustav Holst’s Mars.
The concert will also feature several choral and instrumental groups on campus, and a special appearance from the Honey for the Heart puppets for added theatrical flair.
“It’s a great way to involve many different groups within the School of Music, so it’s kind of a collage concert,” said Huang. “It’s a way to celebrate not just one musical group performing.”
The 45-minute morning concert is geared toward engaging the area’s young music lovers. More than 1,500 elementary students from the Athens, Alexander, Meigs and Federal Hocking school districts are expected to attend.
Their classical music experience is sponsored by the Athens Community Music School, an organization that provides exceptional instruction to local musicians in kindergarten through sixth-grade year-round.
“I wanted to get more music to the children in the region,” said Elizabeth Braun, director of the Athens Community Music School. “I then realized that it would be perfect through this Halloween concert and we could do a special show for the kids. Generally we can expect anywhere from 1,300 to 1,500 plus third- through sixth-grade students.”
Admission to Hallowpalooza is free to families who come dressed in a costume, to OU students with a valid Ohio University ID, and to children 12 and younger. All other tickets are $5.
Any proceeds from the concert benefit student support at the School of Music and the Athens Community Music School for future community projects.
Article republished with permission of Ohio University Compass.