Orchestra to conjure movie magic for Halloween weekend

WASHINGTON — The Southeast Iowa Symphony Orchestra is tuning up for a weekend of movie magic, taking its annual Kidsymphony on the road for five concerts celebrating the music of John Williams and the joy of live performance. The 45-minute program promises a burst of adventure and nostalgia, built around the film scores that have shaped generations such as Star Wars, Superman, E.T. and Jurassic Park.

“It’s our 75th anniversary, and John Williams’s music just has universal appeal,” SEISO Director Robert McConnell said. “We’ve done Halloween-themed concerts before, so this seemed like a natural fit. We’re even closer to Halloween than previous years, so if kids want to wear costumes that tie into the movies, they can. The main thing is that for both adults and kids, this is going to be a really fun concert. Adults love it, kids love it, and honestly, it’s one of our most fun concerts to attend.”

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The orchestra will perform Saturday, Nov. 1, in Ottumwa, Mt. Pleasant and Burlington, and Sunday, Nov. 2, in Fairfield and Washington. Families are encouraged to wear costumes, and children will be admitted free — part of the orchestra’s effort to make the symphony experience as welcoming as possible.

McConnell said Kidsymphony has always been about accessibility and fun, not formality.

“A lot of adults hear ‘kids concert’ and assume it’s not for them, and that drives me crazy,” he said. “They’re some of our best concerts. People see the instrument demonstrations, they learn why the music works, and they leave smiling.”

He said that relaxed atmosphere helps people discover that classical music doesn’t have to feel distant.

“It’s not what most people expect from a classical concert,” he said. “It’s lively, relaxed and fun; and it shows that orchestral music can be exciting for everyone, not just for serious listeners.”

McConnell has led many community-focused programs with SEISO, but Kidsymphony holds a special place. It’s equal parts concert and classroom. Between pieces, he plans to explain what gives Williams’s writing its emotional power and to have musicians demonstrate their instruments — a combination designed to help audiences understand what makes the music work.

“When you hear E.T. or Jurassic Park, it’s just fun, but most people don’t know why,” he said. “We’ll breakdown what Williams is doing musically, because when you understand that, it makes listening even more fun.”

That educational approach, McConnell said, challenges the idea that symphony concerts should be silent, formal affairs.

“Historically, in the U.S., you go to a concert, they play the music, and that’s it,” he said. “A lot of times they don’t even talk about it. We like to give people an inside view of the whole thing, and it just makes listening more fun.”

That philosophy extends to the postshow tradition “Meet and Greet Our Instruments,” where children can approach the stage to talk with musicians and see instruments up close. McConnell said those moments often make the biggest impression.

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“Different people are drawn to different instruments, and it’s wonderful to see them light up when they finally hear or hold one,” he said. “I’ve had adults tell me this is their favorite concert of the year. They love hearing how things work and getting that inside view of what we do.”

McConnell believes that openness keeps orchestral music alive. He recalled a recent concert in Fairfield where the musicians sight-read a new score for the first time in front of an audience.

“People went nuts,” he said. “They were fascinated to see what was happening in real time and how we talked through things. It gave them a glimpse into the process, not just the result.”

That glimpse, he said, changes the way people listen. By showing how musicians build a piece — and how composers like Williams evoke emotion — audiences begin to see orchestral music as something human and alive rather than abstract or elite.

“People already have an emotional connection to these themes,” McConnell said. “With traditional symphonic music, you might have to listen a few times to really know it. With John Williams, the emotion is right there. You know the feeling before the first note ends.”

While McConnell says the Kidsymphony is one of the most fun shows SEISO does each year, it also opens the door to deeper musical exploration. He doesn’t see a divide between movie scores and classical works; to him, they serve the same purpose.

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“All music is about capturing emotion,” he said. “Movie scores are just more direct because we already know the stories they belong to. But the best ones, like Williams’s, stand on their own. They’re deep enough to be great music even without the movie.”

That point, he said, was proven in an unexpected moment.

“I was watching a PBS show about Roman architecture in Turkey, and the music seemed familiar,” McConnell said. “It turned out it was Jurassic Park. That’s the thing with John Williams’s music — it’s deep enough that it’s strong on its own without the movie.”

He sees the same depth in Williams’s lesser-known work such as Memoirs of a Geisha and Angela’s Ashes. He describes those musical scores as “really interesting music.”

McConnell said programs like Kidsymphony serve a broader purpose for SEISO. They keep live performance accessible while encouraging curiosity about how music is made. The concerts are supported by the Dorothy Moehlman Memorial, Dan Wiedemeier Memorial, Wapello County Foundation, Community Foundation of Des Moines County, Enhance Henry County Community Foundation, Pennebaker Foundation, Cambridge Foundation, Ottumwa Oktoberfest and Community 1st Credit Union.

He said that support allows the orchestra to reach new audiences year after year and ensures that Kidsymphony remains a regional tradition that combines family fun with a real introduction to orchestral sound.

“When kids come to these concerts, they realize music isn’t just something that happens in the background of a movie,” he said. “It’s alive, right in front of them. And once you feel that, you never forget it.”

As SEISO celebrates its 75th year, McConnell said the orchestra’s mission remains the same: to connect communities through live music and to make that experience approachable for everyone.

“We want people to feel welcome,” he said. “We want them to laugh, learn and be moved by the music. That’s what this is all about.”

Throw on a costume and catch this year’s Kidsymphony at the following shows:

Saturday, Nov. 1

11 a.m. Bridge View Center, Ottumwa

2 p.m. Chapel Auditorium, Mt. Pleasant

4:30 p.m. Capitol Theater, Burlington

Sunday, Nov. 2

2 p.m. Fairfield Arts & Convention Center, Fairfield

4:30 p.m. Washington High School Auditorium, Washington

Admission is free-for-all children and included for season ticket holders. Adult tickets are $5.

Comments: AnnaMarie.Kruse@southeastiowaunion.com