The gloriously eerie tones of an organ filled the Fordham University Church on Oct. 30, as Fordham’s Campus Ministry hosted their 11th annual All Hallows Eve Halloween Organ concert with guest organist Anthony Rispo. 

Rispo currently serves as the organist and music director at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church. He has a bachelors of applied science in psychology from Columbia University and co-hosts a podcast called “The Discourse Lab”. Rispo’s organ career began in the early 2000s at The Juilliard School’s pre-college program. 

The day before Halloween, only seconds after the 7 p.m. hourly bells rang through campus, Rispo began his set of Halloween-style musical compositions featured in a number of films, most notably, “The Phantom of the Opera.” 

The deep hum of the organ ran through the church for a full hour as he passionately performed in hopes of giving guests “a Halloween feeling,” as Rispo put it. 

Rispo played a variety of pieces composed by legendary musicians. From pieces by Léon Boëllman to Johann Sebastian Bach, the spirits of Halloween were felt by attendees. 

“‘The Phantom of the Opera’ is my favorite musical, and when I first learned about [the concert] and went in, I was literally like, the phantom is here! It’s so amazing,” said Leia DeMarco LaBarbiera, FCRH ’28.

Attendees were given a list of the pieces Rispo would be playing, the original composers of each piece and a sound description. Rispo played one improvised piece on “Dies Irae” which was described on the paper given to attendees.

According to the paper, “[it’s] a spontaneous meditation on the medieval chant of judgment – its ancient tones murmuring of fate and final reckoning.”

Students who attended were enamored by his ability to play the instrument gracefully while playing alone. Gabby Chinnici, FCRH ’27, expressed being inspired by Rispo’s performance as a pianist herself.

“It humbles me because I play piano, and I think that’s difficult. So, looking at him playing the organ, [which] has two sets of keys and the knobs and pedals. [I think] I just need to suck it up and go practice,” Chinnici said. “I’m glad the university would highlight this talent, especially coming from music … The humanities are sometimes a little bit more overshadowed on campus, so it’s nice that there’s a place we can highlight somebody for it.” 

Campus Ministry decorated the university church in typical Halloween decor; ghost figurines were placed on pillars and skeletons dressed as ministers filled the pews. Students appreciated the event being hosted by the Campus Ministry. 

“I am actually a tour guide here, so we do a stop in the church and I always talk about how … [a] religious presence on campus doesn’t have to be religious,” DeMarco LaBarbiera said. “It can also be secular, and this is a great example of that.”

Rispo ended with the iconic “Toccata and Fugue in D Minor, BWV 565,” composed by Bach (1685-1750), which was featured in the 1962 film version of “The Phantom of the Opera.” 

The paper described this piece as “the quintessential organ masterpiece; its fiery opening gesture unfurls into grandeur and terror, a final summoning of Gothic splendor.”

Also composed by Bach, Rispo played “Fugue in G Minor, BWV 578,” which was featured in the 1973 film, “The Paper Chase. “[This piece is] compact yet thrilling, this fugue’s relentless motion evokes a restless energy- a ghostly pursuit through the corridors of sound,” said the paper description. 

Rispo has performed at Fordham’s organ recital in the past. Attendees appreciate his passion and expertise as he manufactures a bewitching otherworldly Halloween charm.