Morrison Center Stage Hosts BSU Orchestra Halloween Show

The Boise State Symphony Orchestra will play its annual Halloween concert Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. inside the Morrison Center main hall. The program, titled 'Of Stage and Screen,' includes music by John Williams, Jacques Offenbach and Camille Saint-Saens. The set list spans from 18th-century arias to the John Williams score from the film 'Catch Me If You Can.' The evening closes with a Williams medley arranged by composer Paul Lavender, covering music from 'Jaws,' the 'Harry Potter' films and 'E.T.'

Orchestra Director Chris Purdy said the concert has run for close to 30 years, dating to when he took the director role. Three faculty members join the players: Matt Castner on alto saxophone, Dr. Kramer Milan on vibraphone and professor Chris Amirati on bass. Purdy called the Morrison Center one of the finest halls in the Northwest. Vocalist Eliot DeHaven, who won the 2026 Concerto-Aria Competition, performs Mozart's 'Hai gia vinta la causa!' and Charles Gounod's 'O sainte medaille.. Avant de quitter ces lieux.'

DeHaven said performing on the Morrison Center stage as a soloist with the full orchestra is a role he values. 'It's really lovely to work with such a talented group of people. People who come in really know what they're doing and are so receptive to the sort of work that we get to do,' he said. DeHaven took the Concerto-Aria Competition title last year, which earned him the spot in this year's 'Spooktacular.' The competition is open to Boise State music majors and minors, who perform a concerto movement, character piece or vocal aria.

Principal cellist Cameron Edwards said orchestra sections sometimes dress in matching Halloween outfits for the show. 'It's really fun to see what costumes people show up in, and it makes the performance feel a little bit more light and fun, and the audience has a really good time. You know, I think it's super fun,' Edwards said. He also addressed projecting across the two-thousand seat hall while staying in balance with the rest of the players.

Edwards said he turns to live orchestral concerts as a break from constant notifications on phones and computers. 'People, in a way, have forgotten what it's like to live a true life that does not require constant demand from technology, like always being at the will of social media or the people texting you or emailing you,' he said. 'You need to recognize and take time in your life to go find that beauty.'

Students, faculty and staff enter free with a Boise State ID. General admission costs $15. The orchestra's Annual Holiday Concert follows Nov. 12 at 6:30 p.m.