Symphony gets spooky in upcoming Halloween concert

Rebecca Talbert (left) and other members of the Jefferson City Symphony Orchestra practice for the upcoming "Spooktacular" concert. Shaun Zimmerman / News Tribune
Rebecca Talbert (left) and other members of the Jefferson City Symphony Orchestra practice for the upcoming "Spooktacular" concert. Shaun Zimmerman / News Tribune

A symphony performance may not typically bring up images of Godzilla ravaging a city and an army of Elvi (that's multiple Elvises) coming to its rescue.

But Spooktacular isn't a typical symphony performance.

The Jefferson City Symphony Orchestra's annual Halloween concert returns Tuesday to Mitchell Auditorium on the Lincoln University campus, 820 Chestnut St. The hour-long performance begins at 6:30 p.m., and there's no intermission.

"It's geared toward being very family friendly and having great variety," said Dan Harbaugh, the JCSO interim conductor for this performance. "This is not that environment where it's 'leave your 5-year-olds at home because they might make a noise.' We want them there; we want them to be exposed to a few classics as well as some great, fun literature."

Some highlights of evening will include well-known John Williams' music scores from the Harry Potter and Star Wars series and also "Funeral March of a Marionette," more commonly known as the theme song to "Alfred Hitchcok Presents."

But the the crowning jewel of the show for Harbaugh is "Godzilla Eats Las Vegas." The 14-minute piece, new to JCSO, is full of vivid imagery and sounds as the sea monster attacks the city and (spoiler) is ultimately defeated. A video will play along with it, and "Elvis himself may even make an appearance."

Despite the silliness, with such a full storyline and numerous components, he said, this was a challenging piece for the 60-65 orchestra members participating in Spooktacular.

"It's been fun to see the whole package come together," he said, noting the community group is comprised of varying levels of experience. "Ultimately, we're all there to make music so it's been a great experience for me."

The show will also feature dancing from a local dance school. And no Halloween performance is complete without a rendition of Michael Jackson's "Thriller," which Harbaugh said closes the show.

Spooktacular marks the first official JCSO performance of the 2021-22 season; though a special Missouri bicentennial-themed concert was held in August at the state Capitol.

Tickets cost $15 for adults and $5 for students; they can be purchased through eventbrite.com. Masking and social distancing will be required.

And remember to wear your Halloween costume, that goes for audience and symphony members.

"No matter what age you are, you're going to find something you like. Let's have a great time," Harbaugh said. "Music is about expression and enjoyment. If you show up in a tux, you're probably be overdressed."