Johnstown Symphony is giving Cambria County a different way to celebrate Halloween this Saturday: a night of live orchestral music, familiar movie themes and a guest pianist at the Pasquerilla Performing Arts Center. Halloween @ the Symphony opens the orchestra’s 98th season on October 17 at 7:30 p.m., with costumes encouraged and a program that reaches beyond seasonal novelty.

For neighbors who have been meaning to try a concert, the evening offers an approachable starting point. Music associated with Harry Potter sits alongside pieces that create their own sense of mystery and drama. You do not need to recognize every composer to follow the changing sound of an orchestra or find a passage that catches your attention.

A program with several personalities

The announced selections include Mussorgsky’s Night on Bald Mountain and Anna Clyne’s This Midnight Hour, alongside music from Harry Potter. Pianist David Kaplan joins the orchestra for Brahms’s Piano Concerto No. 1. Together, those choices give listeners several musical worlds to explore within one evening, rather than presenting a concert built entirely around film favorites.

A good first-concert strategy is to read the program beforehand and choose one thing to listen for: a recognizable melody, the entrance of the piano or the way a quieter section gives way to a larger sound. Families can compare their favorite moments afterward. Treating the concert as a shared discovery leaves room for different reactions without requiring anyone to become an expert.

Several ticket choices

The official ticket page lists regular seats at $65 in Section A, $54 in Section B and $43 in Section C. Section D uses a Pick Your Price option starting at $10. Students 18 and under are listed at $12, while seniors 65 and older and veterans receive a $5 discount on regular ticket prices; qualifying discounts cannot be combined.

Those options make it worthwhile to compare seats before deciding that a symphony outing is outside the household budget. Availability and final checkout details should be checked directly with the orchestra. Tickets for JSO concerts are purchased through the JSO, rather than through the performing arts center’s separate ticketing operation, so start with the orchestra’s official concert listing.

Plan the visit before leaving

The venue is on the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown campus at 450 Schoolhouse Road. The orchestra’s venue guide recommends Kunks Drive and Picking Drive for GPS navigation and notes free parking beside the hall. It also describes accessible entrances, an elevator to the balcony and designated wheelchair seating; contact the box office for arrangements that fit your group.

The event listing runs from 7:30 to 10 p.m., making this an evening to plan around younger children’s attention spans and bedtime. Costume choices should be comfortable for sitting and considerate of the people nearby. Arrive with enough time to park, find your seats and settle in, especially if this is your first visit to the campus.

Buying a ticket is also a way to participate in local cultural life. A live performance turns a familiar tune into something people experience together, with musicians and audience sharing the same room. For residents, students and visitors, that makes an ordinary Saturday feel a little more connected to the place they call home.

Review the concert program, seating choices and attendance policies before purchasing. For ticket questions, call (814) 535-6738. Whether you arrive in costume or simply bring a friend, the practical invitation is the same: make room for an evening of music close to home and let the season’s opening concert introduce you to something new.

Plan your visit or learn more:

Concert program · Official tickets · Venue and accessibility · Attendance policies