Bethel College Chamber Orchestra puts on successful Halloween concert
A recap of the Chamber Orchestra's most recent performance.
Bethel College has a rich history in the Fine Arts. For years, the college’s music program has allowed many students to showcase their talents. Not only is this a great opportunity for students, but it also allows community members to enjoy and be fulfilled by the concerts the college music groups put on. One of the many successful music groups is the Bethel College Chamber Orchestra.
The Bethel College Chamber Orchestra is composed of bass, cello, viola, violin, percussion, and oboe voices and is directed by Kristopher Hilding.
For their most recent concert, on October 29, the Chamber Orchestra performed a Halloween concert titled Fantasy and Fairytales. This concert encompassed the spirit of the season and created a fun, music-filled atmosphere for listeners.
Principal first violinist, Josue Coy Dick, is in a leadership role among the violinists. To maintain his high level of play, Josue does lessons outside of organized practices at Bethel. Being the first chair is a great testament to his ability and is reflected in his performance. Coy Dick is just one example of the many dedicated musicians needed to maintain a successful ensemble like this one.
Students played several pieces from Dwarf Fortress, a simulation and survival game that was released in 2006. The five pieces played were “Drink and Industry,” “Bruising the Fat,” “Pony Rider,” “Hamlet Memoirs,” and “Sisters of War.” The final piece, “Sisters of War,” included vocal backing by Bethel’s own Woven, the soprano and alto student-led acapella group on campus.
All orchestra members were dressed in costume, adding to the Halloween spirit of the concert. Audience members were encouraged to dress up in costume as well, with a prize for a randomly selected audience member in costume.
When asked how the pieces are picked, Director Kristopher Hilding stated, “I try to incorporate soundtrack music that I have heard recently or has been popular over the recent years. Another aspect is getting access to the music. I also had a little more time to actually sit down and arrange it specifically for the group.”
After hours of preparation, the orchestra’s annual Halloween concert was a big success. After displaying an amazing performance, we look forward to many more to come.