A community without a thriving arts scene is a scary thought. Luckily, the Missouri Symphony (MOSY) offered a much more enjoyable kind of fright on Halloween, welcoming longtime patrons, new faces, families, and children for a spine-tingling, music-filled celebration.
For the first time ever, MOSY hosted a Halloween concert at the historic Missouri Theatre on S. Ninth Street. The performance featured classic spooky hits, giving audiences of all ages a chance to experience the orchestra in a festive, family-friendly atmosphere. Children and performers alike dressed in costume to celebrate the occasion.
“The MOSY team had been thinking of creative ways to engage families and younger generations for a while,” said interim executive director Dominique Archambeau. “The same creative team has been in place for about three years now, giving us enough time to grow with the organization as it evolved through past trial, error, and success.”
Archambeau, conductor Wilbur Lin, and Director of Artistic Operations Adrián Gómez Hernández have all participated in Halloween-themed concerts with other orchestras. After seeing the success of MOSY’s other family-oriented performances, they decided it was time to bring a similar experience to Columbia.
“Knowing that Halloween fell on a Saturday this year really pushed us to finally make it happen,” said Archambeau. “Also, wearing costumes and being silly adds a fun element not often associated with a symphony. A lot of the intentional work we’ve been doing in the community has been demystifying what a Symphony is, and — spoiler alert — it’s for everyone!”
While the concert undoubtedly brought Halloween fun to COMO, it also served a larger purpose: introducing younger audiences to orchestral music and making the symphony feel more accessible. Archambeau said the performance incorporated educational moments disguised as fun “spooky storytime” activities, including lessons in aural skills, music history, and counting.
Hernández, who wears several hats at MOSY, including orchestra manager, music librarian, and conservatory coordinator, estimated approximately 450 ticket sales for the Halloween performance. The turnout reflected an encouraging response to a new kind of programming for the organization, which traditionally presents classical masterworks.
Introducing new programming also means finding ways to bring longtime supporters along for the experience.
“Creating new programming, like the Halloween concert, carries some risk because we don’t want to inadvertently isolate some of our longtime supporters who love classical music,” said Archambeau. “After talking with some of our longtime MOSY supporters and implementing a couple of these new family concerts, they are very happy to see that we are reaching the younger generations. They are also so wonderful and welcoming to our new MOSY guests, and it truly shows why MOSY matters.”
A highlight for Development Assistant Richa Bhavsar was the children’s parade, which took place midway through the performance. About 30 costumed children were invited onstage to promenade as the orchestra played, filling the theatre with excitement. A close second was Hernández surprising the audience with a Jack Sparrow-inspired walk as the musicians played in the background, prompting the entire theatre to burst into laughter.
“[This performance] showed us that families are eager for music that feels welcoming and fun,” said Bhavsar. “We’d love to keep creating more family-friendly experiences, bring new audiences to the Missouri Theatre, and build on our partnerships with local businesses and organizations in Columbia.”
Though a departure from MOSY’s more typical performances, Archambeau shared that the MOSY team began discussing plans for next year’s event before the performance even happened — speaking to her confidence in her colleagues and their ability to put on a good show.
