MADISON – As a standard performance for a season, Madison City Community Orchestra traditionally presents a fall concert. However, the MCCO Fall Concert for 2022 will be anything but standard.

The concert, “A Musical Trick or Treat,” on Oct. 23 at 5 p.m. will be held in the Christian Life Center of Madison United Methodist Church, 127 Church St. in downtown Madison.

“We will be playing pieces like ‘Toccata and Fugue,’ ‘Night on Bald Mountain,’ Harry Potter (themes) and others,” MCCO Director Sandy Weisner said about their musical choices with ominous tones.

In addition, MCCO will host a costume contest and have six trick-or-treat stations for youngsters to visit while the orchestra is performing some of its concert pieces. Guests can visit a photo booth with the background from Harry Potter films.

“So everyone should dress up and come have a good time listening to great music and go trick-or-treating for the kiddos,” Weisner said.

MCCO encourages audience members to dress in Halloween costumes of their choosing. Weisner believes the masquerading will add to the enjoyment of the concert.

Officers in Liberty Middle School Band will staff the trick-or-treat stations, which will be decorated in themes for scary and fantasy movies, including “E.T.,” “Ghostbusters,” “The Wizard of Oz,” “Scooby Doo,” “Monster Mash” and “Psycho.”

The orchestra members could simply play their concert . . . without any special effort for the trick-or-treat stations or other surprises. Why go to this effort? When Weisner started this orchestra, she was determined that MCCO members would be part of the community and give back as possible, along with fulfilling their overall mission.

“I feel it is so very important that we don’t lose sight of our mission but, if we can reach just one person with the joy that music provides, then we are successful,” Weisner said. “Having Liberty Middle School band members helping out with our stations and having the community come dressed up is fun and enjoyable . . . but it is more than that.”

“We are showing the community that orchestral music is not just a formal sit-down, be-quiet-and-listen activity. Classical music can be a fun, interactive and light-hearted experience, as well as the formal aspect,” Weisner said.

“It’s also a time for the players to have a little fun with it, too,” Weisner said. “It’s not very often that we get to dress up in costumes either, so it’s an opportunity for us to let our hair down and do something different while sharing the wonderful music.”

“Of course, the concert is free as always,” she said.

For more information, email director@mccorchestra.org or visit mccorchestra.org.