COLLEGE PARK, Md. — On May 8th, 2010, the University of Maryland’s Gamer Symphony Orchestra (GSO) which performs music from classic video games like “Tetris” and new hits like “Super Mario Galaxy,” will treat members to its fifth annual spring concert. The event, which takes place on May 8 at 3 p.m. in the Smith Center’s Dekelboum Concert Hall. The performance is free, family-friendly and open to the public.
Highlights from the concert repertoire include themes from Katamari Damacy, and The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker. GSO musicians have adapted all songs for the orchestra’s instrumentation and size.
The orchestra’s 100-plus members include a 32-person chorus, which sings both on its own and together with the instrumentalists. Founded late in 2005 by six students,the GSO works to establish video game
music as a serious art form and uses that music as a way to bring new and younger
audiences to orchestral performances. GSO is the first organization of its type at the
college level.
In addition to performing, GSO members organize yearly video game tournaments, dubbed “Deathmatch for Charity.” The event raises money for Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, D.C., via Child’s Play, a charitable foundation that buys toys for hospitalized kids. This year’s Deathmatch, GSO’s fourth, raised
$653.70, bringing the four-year grand total to some $2,700. Educational outreach is also an important part of GSO’s mission, and orchestra members have worked with area high schoolers to promote video game songs, as well as music in general. Inspired by GSO’s previous concerts, a group of students at Magruder
High School in Rockville, Md., began a gamer symphony orchestra of their own in December 2008. GSO provided administrative assistance and sheet music to help the Magruder group grow. GSO’s leaders have even participated in seminars promoting the academic study of video game music.
For more information and links to video and audio recordings, please contact
GSO President Rob Garner or visit GSO’s Web site: http://umd.gamersymphony.org/.
University of Maryland Gamer Symphony Orchestra
COLLEGE PARK, Md. — On May 8th, 2010, the University of Maryland’s Gamer Symphony Orchestra (GSO) which performs music from classic video games like “Tetris” and new hits like “Super Mario Galaxy,” will treat members to its fifth annual spring concert. The event, which takes place on May 8 at 3 p.m. in the Smith Center’s Dekelboum Concert Hall. The performance is free, family-friendly and open to the public.
Highlights from the concert repertoire include themes from Katamari Damacy, and The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker. GSO musicians have adapted all songs for the orchestra’s instrumentation and size.
The orchestra’s 100-plus members include a 32-person chorus, which sings both on its own and together with the instrumentalists. Founded late in 2005 by six students,the GSO works to establish video game
music as a serious art form and uses that music as a way to bring new and younger
audiences to orchestral performances. GSO is the first organization of its type at the
college level.
In addition to performing, GSO members organize yearly video game tournaments, dubbed “Deathmatch for Charity.” The event raises money for Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, D.C., via Child’s Play, a charitable foundation that buys toys for hospitalized kids. This year’s Deathmatch, GSO’s fourth, raised
$653.70, bringing the four-year grand total to some $2,700. Educational outreach is also an important part of GSO’s mission, and orchestra members have worked with area high schoolers to promote video game songs, as well as music in general. Inspired by GSO’s previous concerts, a group of students at Magruder
High School in Rockville, Md., began a gamer symphony orchestra of their own in December 2008. GSO provided administrative assistance and sheet music to help the Magruder group grow. GSO’s leaders have even participated in seminars promoting the academic study of video game music.
For more information and links to video and audio recordings, please contact
GSO President Rob Garner or visit GSO’s Web site: http://umd.gamersymphony.org/.