Monster fun is promised when St Albans Symphony Orchestra (SASO) puts on its children’s concerts next weekend.

Youngsters are invited to wear fancy dress for musical fun and mayhem at the concerts which will be held at 2pm and 3.30pm next Sunday, November 6, at St Saviour’s Church in Sandpit Lane.

The featured work this year is Not Now Bernard! – a musical setting of David McKee’s classic storybook. Bernard Hughes, the work’s appropriately-named composer, will be narrating the cautionary tale in which a little boy’s parents are too busy to notice surprising on-goings involving a monster.

Tom Hammond, SASO’s new principal conductor, is confident that primary-age children and their mums and dads will enjoy the music, having conducted its premiere in Birmingham five years ago.

He said: “The music is full of entertaining sound effects and I’m really looking forward to introducing families to it. The story, combined with Bernard Hughes’s music, are a great way for children to discover how exciting a ‘live’ symphony orchestra sounds – and getting them to think about learning to play an instrument.”

Other works in the two, repeated concerts, include famous musical descriptions of ghouls and ghosties - the Danse Macabre by French composer Saint-Saens and Night on Bare Mountain, by the Russian composer Mussorgsky. There will also be an interval opportunity for children to try out some of the musician’s instruments.

Tom added: “It’s traditional for the orchestra as well as the children to wear fancy dress, although it’s not at all compulsory. Halloween costumes would go well with the music we are playing, so don’t put them away just yet.”

Tickets, price £1 (children) and £5 (accompanying grown-ups) are available from the SASO ticket secretary (01582 873920 or 07976 800445), tickets@saso.org.uk or on the door. Online booking here (booking fee applies).