The annual Halloween Hauncert featured both the orchestra and band with a delighted audience once again this year.
Held in the Brown Auditorium, the event showcased each group’s musical talents before concluding with a combined finale, a long-standing tradition for this concert that dates back to before the pandemic.
Each group had about 15 to 20 minutes to perform.
“We do a program where each one of us has about 15 to 20 minutes where we showcase our discipline,” said band director Mr. Russell Vogt. “Band had a portion of the performance with band-only literature, and orchestra had their portion with orchestra-only literature. Then we combine for our last finale piece.”
The concert featured Halloween-themed music, with selections that included melodies and songs commonly associated with the holiday. Students embraced the Halloween spirit by dressing in costumes, with a costume contest adding to the fun.
“That’s what makes this concert really fun and exciting,” orchestra director Mr. Steve Kastner explained. “It’s all spooky music or songs associated with Halloween and the participants get to dress in costume. There are even different costume contests, so it’s a lot of fun.”
Preparation for the concert was long-lasting. The orchestra began learning music at the start of the school year, while the band began in early September after spending the first few weeks on pep music for football games. The transition between different types of music was a challenge for band members.
“The music that we perform on stage requires more finesse and attention to detail compared to what we play at pep rallies,” said Mr. Vogt, adding that one particular piece with a slow, mysterious opening required significant focus and careful counting.
Despite the challenges, the concert was a success, marking a return to a joint performance after years of separate programs due to COVID.
