Trick or Treble: Feel the Spooky Enchantment of USNA’s Halloween All Saints Day Organ Concert

Get ready for one of the U.S. Naval Academy’s most cherished traditions. Like Navy football games and Commissioning Week, there is always a great deal of excitement around this event. But unlike the first two, this one is a bit…scary. Welcome to the Halloween All Saints’ Day Organ Concert, an experience that has been spooking midshipmen, staff, faculty, and townsfolk alike since 1997. What is All Saints’ Day without this legendary event? It’s certainly less exciting.

Led by the inimitable master of the macabre, Juilliard-trained chapel organist Monte Maxwell, the concert oozes with Halloween thrills and chills. As in the past, people will be lining up to see this show—and the three showtimes will definitely sell out. So grab your tickets now!

The USNA Chapel Show That Brings Shivers

organ Director of Chapel Music and Chapel Organist of the Naval Academy Monte Maxwell is a living legend and a sorcerer of the sprawling Naval Academy organ. It’s reported that at his audition over twenty years ago, each musician was asked to bring three pieces of music to play. Maxwell brought ten. He asked the selection committee to choose their three favorites—and then proceeded to play them by heart.

The show is amazing, and it’s unlike anything else the Naval Academy performs. As one of the most popular Yard events, it draws record-breaking crowds each year. Enthusiasts flock to experience a large sampling of different songs that are, at times, tender - and at other times, terrifying. Midshipmen show off their incredible artistic talents, which extend beyond their rigorous military duties. They act, they sing, and they dance. Accompanied by the more than 15,000 pipes radiating music from the five-manual console, the effect is tremendous, melding with spectacular light shows, eerie special effects, and creeping fog to put you in a spooktacular mood. It’s a USNA concert that brings down the house every time.

You Never Know What Might Happen Next

skeletons

Each year’s show is different, so you never know what to expect. There are phantoms, ghouls, and more. Past shows have featured a casket wheeled solemnly to the front of the long aisle by midshipmen, which opened slowly when it reached the head of the chapel. Then Monte Maxwell sat up bolt-straight from inside the casket and the show began. The audience was rapt with attention.

One of the most important annual numbers is the “Toccata and Fugue in D Minor,” a piece that celebrates the triumph of good over evil for All Saints’ Day while evoking every horror film or haunted house you’ve trembled through. You might also see ghosts floating by, hear an ethereal “Battle Hymn of The Republic” reverberate all around you as the chorus surrounds the chapel with their stunning harmonies, or feel the palpable power of “God Bless America” sung by men and women in uniform. The show is a feast for the senses and an experience not to be missed. The grand finale will give you goosebumps.

Get Your Tickets!

Tickets are available now for purchase, and going fast, so make sure to get yours today:

Three Showtimes:

Friday, October 25, 2024: USNA Chapel 7:00 p.m.

Friday, October 25, 2024: USNA Chapel 10:00 p.m.

Saturday, October 26, 2024: USNA Chapel 7:00 p.m.

Buy Tickets Here.

Get your tickets now before they’re sold out!

A USNA shuttle will be running for all performances. Pickup is at the old NEX at 321 Kinkaid Road in Annapolis, running 4:00 p.m. to midnight on Friday and 4:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m on Saturday.

Those in the know say to get to the church 45 minutes early to see the spooky show before the actual show, right outside the USNA Chapel. Seating is first come first served, so get there early as the seats fill up fast! If you just can’t wait to see what wicked things will come your way at the concert, you can watch the ghosts of concerts past here.

Don’t Miss Other Great Events on the USNA Calendar

The USNA Halloween Concert is a do-not-miss event, and you’ll likely enjoy the various other incredible events around the Yard. Here are three amazing upcoming performances:

Midshipman Instrumental Recital: On November 15th, the midshipmen will wow you with ensemble and solo pieces from this wildly talented group.
Pipes and Drums Fall Concert: Formed in 1996, the USNA Pipes and Drums are the only active duty pipe band in the Department of the Navy. With bagpipers, highland drummers, and highland dancers, they bring the sounds of Scotland to life! Catch their show on December 6th at Mahan Hall.

Handel’s Messiah: The 77th annual Handel’s Messiah will take place on December 7th (at 7:00 p.m.) and 8th (at 3:00 p.m.) at the USNA Chapel. Broadcast on local and national public television, this concert is a cherished Naval Academy tradition.

There are many more opportunities to come to the Yard and feel the history unfolding here.

Get Delightfully Scared

The U.S. Naval Academy is fortunate to be home to so many talented midshipmen, faculty, and staff—those who work hard day in and day out and also shine bright in performances like the USNA Halloween All Saints’ Day Organ Concert. This spooktacular show is a treasured Yard tradition, and we love kicking off the scary season with a taste of the surreal.

Get goosebumps in the USNA Chapel. When you visit the Yard, you’re giving back to the midshipmen who give to our country. Your dining, shopping, and USNA tours all provide proceeds that make extracurricular activities such as cultural arts, theater, music, club sports and more possible. So stop by the Naval Academy Club for lunch, visit the USNA Gift Shop and book a USNA tour. Then come help the midshipmen and townsfolk get tricked and trebled at the most memorable show in town!

On The Yard