After a decade-long absence, the Little Chamber Music Series is returning to Vancouver. To celebrate, the series is kicking off its 2013/2014 with two concerts, one this Saturday Oct. 26 and another on Halloween, and both featuring a very special guest – Nicole Lizée.

A Saskatchewan composer who has written for turntables and unusual instrument combinations, Nicole’s star is on the rise in New Music circles. Last summer the acclaimed Kronos Quartet (which recently played Vancouver) debuted a new Lizée composition at Royal Albert Hall as part of the Proms, the BBC’s summer classical concert series. She has also been blowing minds with her Concerto for Power Trio and Orchestra: Fantasia on Themes by Rush, a composition inspired by the music of Rush for guitar, bass, drums and orchestra.

Lizée and her work will be the focus of the Little Chamber Music Series relaunch concert Oct. 26. Entitled Celebration Places, the concert takes place at the Roundhouse (181 Roundhouse Mews) in Yaletown and is billed as a “family-oriented, new music Halloween rave/dance party.” Besides Lizée, SaskPower will also perform. The Montreal act combine forces with Little Chamber Strings, which includes series program director and double-bass player Mark Haney, on a repertoire new classical, psychedelia and vintage film soundtrack music. Tickets are $10 for adults in costume, artists, seniors and students, and $20 for everyone else (just about – kids get in free). Buy them at the door or visit brownpapertickets.com or LittleChamberMusic.com.

And on Halloween, the Little Chamber Music Series is pleased to present the world premiere of a new work by Lizée. Based on the theme of death, the piece is composed for string quartet and tape, and will be performed three times, at 7, 8 and 9 p.m., at the Celebration Hall, a hall located in Mountain View Cemetery (5455 Fraser St.). In keeping with LCMS’s mandate to make new classical music accessible in both attitude and cost, the performances are free.