Golden Strings adds frightful twist

For the first time in its 35-year history, this year’s Golden Strings concert will include audience participation.

The annual concert presented by the Shawano Community High School music department will include a costume contest at Friday’s performance. The show’s theme is “Halloween FUN.”

Audience members who wish to participate in the contest will need to pay $2. The audience will select the winner, who will receive $50.

The student musicians also will be in costume, and the music will emphasize the Halloween theme.

“This is going to be like no other concert we have done before,” said junior Simon Moesch, who plays the string bass. “We planned it out totally different, and it is going to be a super fun and entertaining concert.”

The juniors and seniors planned the concert, including the lighting concepts and special effects.

Music teacher Jill Sousek said the biggest challenges were combining the concert orchestra and symphony orchestra into one unit for the annual event and working with the Halloween theme.

“With the Halloween music, it is more difficult because of the special effects, to play for the audience,” Sousek said. “It took quite a bit of effort and we have all had to put in our own ideas and help outside of class.”

The program will also include some of the Golden Strings standard pieces.

Senior Kiahna Johnson will be performing in her fourth Golden Strings concert.

“It’s a great opportunity to see what we have offer,” Johnson said.

There will not be a costume contest at the Saturday performance, but it will include a raffle drawing for a heart necklace. Raffle tickets can be purchased Friday and Saturday nights.

Proceeds from the event will benefit the symphony orchestra program, which is purchasing new cellos and basses, Sousek said.