The Hays Symphony Orchestra will be performing an adaptation of The Firebird by Igor Stravinsky for their Children’s Halloween Concert at 3 p.m. on Oct. 28 at Beach/Schmidt Performing Arts Center.

While the concert is free and open to the public, those wishing to attend are encouraged to go to https://www.hayssymphony.org/events/childrens-halloween-concert to reserve their tickets.

Cathy Drabkin is the volunteer coordinator of publicity for the concerts and has played cello with the Symphony for 24 years.

The Symphony’s idea for the Children’s Halloween Concerts started three years ago when they performed the story Peter and the Wolf.

“We hadn’t done a children’s concert in a really long time, and Halloween just happened to be the time when we could get it scheduled, so we decided to expand the concert beyond ‘come in, sit down, and hear the music,’” Drabkin said. “We wanted to make it a family-focused event that tied into what the kids would be seeing on stage.”

The music from The Firebird is based off of Russian folk tales and a ballet by Stravinsky. Nationally-recognized playwright Catherine Trieschmann offered to write a children’s adaptation of this story that could be read as the Symphony performed the music.

Hays Arts Council director Brenda Meder will narrate the story while Hays youth and adults act out the story on stage.

Drabkin said the concert will prove to be an interesting event for all ages.

“The music itself is often scheduled by orchestras as a part of regular concerts, so even if an older kid or an adult has grown out of fairytales, the music is still totally legitimate for listening to and being worthy of time,” Drabkin said.

There will also be a variety of activities beginning at 2 p.m., such as a Russian fairytale story hour, a Halloween costume parade, and an arts and crafts station where attendees can make their own firebird masks. A particularly unique activity being offered before the concert is an instrument petting zoo.

“We bring out violins, violas, cellos, basses, flutes, trumpets, clarinets, and drums. Of course there will be adults there guiding them, but we set them out so the kids can practice bowing, blowing, hitting, and just getting their hands on instruments. It’s always a really popular activity.”

The Symphony plays a number of roles in the community regarding musical education for students and graduates alike.

Senior Carl Rorstrom always looks forward to playing with the Symphony to share his passion with the local kids and community.

“I love music, but it’s great when we can introduce it to the youngest generation,” Rorstrom said.

Drabkin said that she loves playing with the Symphony because it gives the community the opportunity to experience live orchestral music instead of clicking on YouTube.

“For musicians and non-musicians alike, I think it brings beauty and joy to life,” Drabkin said.

21cleiker@usd489.com