Occurring on October 24^th and the 25^th, the Millikin percussion ensemble performed their annual Halloween percussion concert, in order to create a unique spin on the traditional form of a concert and to act as a fundraiser.

Brian Justison, Millikin’s percussion director, said, “Halloween is many things,” Justison, was also the main instructor for the concert.

“In addition to being an ensemble performance, it is also an exercise in creativity and team building. Its focus is on entertaining people and developing ideas that encompass musical, theatrical and production elements. We like to think that it puts the ‘fun’ in fundraising.”

And it most definitely does, as the performance features the multiple performers dressed in costume, in order to match the theme of Halloween, while using a variety of effects to create the overall spooky feeling. The music used in the concert also followed a wide variety as Director Justison mentioned that the concert contains “music ranging from the novel to the sublime.”

To correlate with the upcoming holiday, the performers used a variety of props and special effects in order to scare the audience. There were fake spiders that were thrown on various members of the audience, as well as a coffin (that was also used as a instrument for a time during the show).

In addition, a projector and a black light with neon green bags were used to create an overall dreary effect to Albert Taylor Theatre, which was also decorated with fake spider webs and other various props.

The concert was performed in Albert Taylor to correlate with the “celebration of Halloween,” Brian Justison said, who also elaborated that Albert Taylor was the best place to perform a frightening concert, as the theatre itself is long rumored to be haunted.

The performers also completely embraced the Halloween theme, as they all occupied different costumes. They various performers dressed as people in hazmat suits, killers, gangsters from the 1920s, police officers, Garth, Superman, the Little Mermaid, a girl (a guy dressed in drag), characters from The Flintstones, Kick-Ass, and cowboy. Even Director Justison went in on the holiday fun, as he dressed in a variety of different costumes such as Godzilla, Dr. Who, the grim reaper, Jigsaw, and Donatello from The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

“I think the concert was a big hit,” said freshman Kareem Williams, “it was a lot of work, but it was also extremely fun. Everyone was happy to perform in such a relaxed environment where we could act how we wanted too. Even Professor Justison had fun playing in his costumes. Overall that’s the most fun I’ve had playing in a concert. Although the music was challenging, it was fun learning and performing.”

In addition to being an extremely entertaining seasonable concert, all the money that was generated through the performance will go towards attending the Percussive Arts Society International Convention.