Forget the formalities and enter festivities: unlike the usual set, the CHS orchestra’s Halloween concert, scheduled to be held on October 28, will be an experiment in mixing traditional (and not-so-traditional) music and a more relaxed, hands-on form of entertainment.

Included in the festivities will be a costume contest, with prizes, for party-goers in kindergarten through fifth grade.

“I got the idea as one way of bringing all the schools together,” orchestra director Julie Hoffman said. “The younger students will get to hear the older kids play.”

The orchestra has been rehearsing popular Halloween music, from classics such as “A Night on Bald Mountain” to more contemporary pieces such as “Thriller”. Additionally included on the list are medleys containing excerpts of both genres.

Though the music is hardly the conventional variety, Hoffman reveals that this was one of the major points of the concert being Halloween-themed—to show that having heard one concert doesn’t necessarily imply that one has heard them all.

“Music has specific purposes,” Hoffman said. “I don’t think people realize that if we take music out of movies, or any everyday activity, there’s a big impact. This brings in the multiple facets of art.”

The more contemporary styles will demonstrate one of the specific modes of music that many don’t think about often.

Though the concert is intended to be “fun for all ages”, Hoffman encourages students to bring along younger friends or siblings that might enjoy an early opportunity to go trick-or-treating, along with the costume contest. Other desserts will also be for sale.

The concert is intended to be the orchestra’s annual fundraiser, and is serving as a replacement to the usual POPS concert.

“The tickets only cost $5, which is a reasonable cost,” Hoffman said. “I’d like the place to be full, so that the orchestra has a great audience.”

The concert will be held at 7 p.m. in the CHS Auditorium. Anyone interested or with additional questions should contact Stephanie Manny at 314-854-6720, or in the Performing Arts Office.