WU holds Symphony Orchestra Concert
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The conductor controls the performance with his spirit, emotions and passion. Music can control human emotion, but the conductor controls the music.
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Students dress up in costumes in spirit of Halloween. The Washburn Symphony Orchestra event was performed Oct. 30, 2022.
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The students speak to the audience through music. The Washburn Symphony Orchestra event was performed October 30, 2022.
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The event includes small competitions during the symphony. The audience voted for the best costume.
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The students celebrate as they finish the costume competition. Most of the characters they chose were superheroes, pirates and animals.
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The symphony plays theme songs from popular movies such as “Batman” and “Jurassic Park.” The audience enjoyed the familiar tunes.
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A student plays piano during the symphony. The music was enjoyed by both musicians and audiences.
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Members of the orchestra lead a children’s costume contest. Children from the audience went on stage and described their costumes.
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Children show their musical talents. The symphony was open to an audience of all ages.
On Sunday, Oct. 30, the Washburn University Symphony Orchestra and the Topeka Youth Symphony held a symphonic, spooky themed concert. The concert featured a costume contest, mini game centered around corn and great music.
The concert was held under the direction of John McKeever, guest conductor from University of North Carolina School of Arts Symphony Orchestra. McKeever conducted the orchestra through “Big Country” (Jerome Moross 1913-1983) and ”March of the Trolls” (Edward Grieg 1843-1907).
Halfway through the concert, Cleo Foster and Mia Stricklin, two members of the orchestra, led a kids costume contest. Any child under the age of 13 was able to join the two on stage, state their name and what they were dressed up as for Halloween. The show then went on with a corn-themed mini game in which Silas Huff, director of orchestras, quizzed McKeever over his knowledge of corn.
After the mini game, guest pianist Lucy Tan, an artist who has concertized at many notable venues including Jordan Hall, Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center, joined the orchestra to play “Totentanz,” also known as “Dance of Death” by Franz Liszt. Tan is also a two-time recipient of the Masonic Cultural Enrichment grant and has won several awards.
Miles Moore, one of the symphony’s tubists, told a scary story before the adult Halloween contest hosted by trombonist Orion Craig and trumpet player Trustan Hahn.
The concert ended with an adult Halloween costume contest and went on to finish with “Batman” by Dany Elfman and the theme song from Jurassic Park by John Williams.
“These students’ ability to work with me on these pieces at the last minute was delightful, and it’s pleasant to be here working with WU Students,” McKeever said.
The next Mosaic Concert is Sunday, Nov. 6 at 3 p.m. in White Concert Hall.
Edited by Glorianna Noland, Rakesh Swarnakar
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