Civic Orchestra of Chicago Performs Spooky Music; “Haunted Ballroom" Offers Fun Activities for Kids
The spirit of Halloween is creeping into Symphony Center! On Saturday, October 24, at 3pm, the Civic Orchestra of Chicago presents “Hallowed Haunts" - a special concert for families featuring spine-tingling musical tales. Before the concert, Symphony Center hosts spooky festivities for kids in the “Haunted Ballroom" from 1:30 to 2:30.
The centerpiece of Symphony Center's Halloween merriment is the thrilling “Hallowed Haunts" concert performed by the festively costumed Civic Orchestra of Chicago, under the direction of Stuart Chafetz. The fun-filled program brings to life some of the most deliciously spooky and exciting music ever composed, including Saint-Sans' “Danse macabre," excerpts from Stravinsky's “Firebird" and Holst's “The Planets," as well as the music of John Williams from the Harry Potter films and more! Actress Sheri Williams Pannell joins the orchestra to narrate Dukas' famously ominous The Sorcerer's Apprentice, based on the Goethe poem of wizardry gone awry. Civic also plays the Chicago premiere of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, a haunting work by contemporary composer Steven Reineke, who was recently appointed music director of the New York Pops and for 13 years served as associate conductor, composer and arranger for the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra. “Hallowed Haunts" is recommended for ages 5 and up, with special pricing for ages 5 to 17.
The frightful afternoon of Halloween entertainment gets underway even before the concert in Symphony Center's “Haunted Ballroom," from 1:30 to 2:30pm. Young ghosts, goblins and ghouls can partake in fun Halloween games (with wacky prizes) and arts-and-crafts activities throughout Symphony Center's Grainger Ballroom, Rotunda, Arcade and Orchestra Hall. All patrons, young and old, are encouraged to come dressed in their most imaginative costumes for Halloween trick-or-treating.
In addition to the Saturday concert, “Hallowed Haunts" will be performed for students of Chicago-area schools in grades 4 and 5 with back-to-back concerts on Friday, October 23. Members of the student audience also are invited to attend the concert in costume. Questions regarding tickets to the Friday student matinees should be directed to the CSO's Institute for Learning, Access and Training at 312-294-3410.
Stuart Chafetz is resident conductor of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra and was music director of the Maui Symphony Orchestra from 1999 to 2003. An advocate for the musical education of young people, he is known for engaging audiences with his innovative and exciting classical, pops and family concerts. Chafetz has conducted hundreds of performances nationwide focusing on the importance of classical music and the fine arts in our everyday lives, and he has worked with a variety of classical and pop artists, including George Benson, Regina Carter, Richard Chamberlain, John Denver, Randy Newman and Bernadette Peters.
The Civic Orchestra of Chicago, founded in 1919 by CSO Music Director Frederick Stock, is the only training orchestra affiliated with a major American orchestra. It is a signature program of The Institute for Learning, Access and Training at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, which offers a comprehensive sequence of programs intended to transform the lives of young people through active participation in music. The principal goal of the Civic Orchestra is to recruit a diverse group of gifted preprofessional musicians from across the country, train them at the highest level as orchestral players and further develop skills of advocacy and mentoring, which are essential to the role of orchestral musicians in communities, now and in the future. More than half of Civic's 90 players have completed graduate degrees - many are alumni from the top-tier music schools in the nation.
Tickets: $10-$46
The Civic Orchestra of Chicago is sponsored in part by Sara Lee Foundation.
Additional classical, pop and world-music presentations coming up this fall and winter on the Symphony Center Presents series include Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitln (October 4), Los Lobos with special guests The Duhks (November 1), Sweet Honey in the Rock (November 15), Vienna Boys Choir (November 28), Chanticleer (December 7 and 8), the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Brass (December 17) and An Acoustic Evening with the BoDeans (January 30).
TICKETS for Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Symphony Center Presents and Civic Orchestra of Chicago performances can be purchased by calling CSO ticketing services at 312-294-3000 or 800-223-7114, online at www.cso.org, or by visiting the Symphony Center box office at 220 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60604. Discounted student tickets can be purchased, subject to availability, online in advance or at the box office on the day of the concert. For group rates, please call 312-294-3040. Artists, programs and ticket prices are subject to change.
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