The Gamer Symphony Orchestra at the University of Maryland (often referred to as the GSO, UMGSO, or UMDGSO) is a student-run symphony orchestra and chorus at the University of Maryland. The orchestra is the first collegiate ensemble to draw its repertoire exclusively from the music of video games.[1][2][3] Most of GSO's members are non-music majors,[4][5] and membership in the ensemble is not audition-based.[1] The orchestra holds a free concert every semester during the academic year and yearly charity fundraisers that benefit the Children's National Medical Center in Washington, D.C.[6][7]
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Michelle Eng, a violist in the School of Music's Repertoire Orchestra, founded GSO in the fall of 2005.[8] The group's first public performance was April 29, 2006, and featured about 20 musicians. The GSO added a chorus in the fall of 2007[8], by which time the ensemble totaled 50 musicians.[9] As of spring 2010 the orchestra had 100 members, including 30 choral singers.[6] By fall of 2010, its numbers had surpassed 100.[10][11]
The development of this orchestra mirrors the acceptance of classical music concerts anchored by video game music in the United States. Eng founded this group after having been inspired by Video Games Live, the Dear Friends concert series, and "Video Game Pianist" Martin Leung.[12]
Composer Jonathan Coulton complimented the GSO's 2008 performance of "Still Alive," from the game "Portal," calling it a "fantastic cover" in a post on his blog.[13] This recording was posted to OC ReMix as only the second live recording in the history of the site—the first accepted ReMix of music from "Portal."[14] OC ReMix founder David Lloyd was present for GSO's first live performance of "Still Alive."[14]
The GSO's concert on Dec. 11, 2010, overfilled the capacity of the 1,170-seat Dekelboum Concert Hall[11], the largest concert hall at the university's Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center.
The Video Games Live concerts on Feb. 26, 2011, at Strathmore in Bethesda, Md., featured "a special contribution" from the GSO.[15][16][17] GSO and Video Games Live staff began discussing collaborative possibilities in August 2010 for the pair of Strathmore concerts.[18] VGL founder Tommy Tallarico chose to include an adapted version of GSO's arrangement of "Korobeiniki" from "Tetris" in the Strathmore concert programs.[18] The National Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorale performed the piece, arranged by GSO Conductor Emeritus Greg Cox. Former GSO Music Director and current singer Chris Apple performed the piece's tenor solo.
The ensemble's spring 2011 concert featured Mark Cromer, the senior sound designer for Big Huge Games, as a guest banjo player.[19] Cromer joined the GSO for a medley of "Banjo-Kazooie" themes.[19] Grant Kirkhope, who composed the original music, attended the performance.[19] The spring concert, at which the GSO observed its fifth anniversary, also featured a performance of "Electric de Chocobo" from "Final Fantasy VII" by the Magruder High School Gamer Symphony Orchestra.[20][19]
Video Games Live again performed GSO's Korobeiniki arrangement, under the title "Tetris Opera," at L.A. Live's Nokia Theatre on June 8, 2011.[21] The show (VGL's 200th) was put on in partnership with the Electronic Entertainment Expo.[21]
Performance venues have included the University of Maryland's Hoff Theater, Memorial Chapel and Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center.
Semester | Games Performed (Selection) |
---|---|
2011 Fall | Pokémon, Shadow of the Colossus, Civilization V, Disgaea: Hour of Darkness, Kingdom Hearts II |
2011 Spring | Banjo-Kazooie, Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney, Oregon Trail, Portal, Secret of Mana |
2010 Fall | Xenosaga, Touhou, Megaman, Donkey Kong Country, Final Fantasy VI |
2010 Spring | Super Mario Galaxy,[n 1] Final Fantasy XII, The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, Civilization IV |
2009 Fall | Final Fantasy IX, Final Fantasy X, Tetris |
2009 Spring | Portal, Kingdom Hearts, Katamari Damacy |
2008 Fall | Final Fantasy VIII, Warcraft II, Star Fox |
2008 Spring | Final Fantasy XIII, Super Mario 64, The Legend of Zelda |
2007 Fall | Halo, Star Fox 64, Medal of Honor: Frontline |
2007 Spring | Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest, Xenosaga, Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars |
2006 Fall | Super Mario Bros. 2, Tetris, Final Fantasy |
2006 Spring | The Legend of Zelda, Final Fantasy, Kingdom Hearts |
Full recordings of recent concerts can be downloaded from the group's website.
Group members produce the arrangements that this orchestra performs.[4][5]
The GSO's fall 2008 concert inspired students at Magruder High School in Rockville, Md., to found their own video game orchestra.[5][6] The similarly named Magruder Gamer Symphony Orchestra performs regularly at the high school's instrumental music concerts as the only non-classroom ensemble.
In fall 2010, the Maryland GSO helped to establish a similar ensemble at Damascus High School in Damascus, Md.[22]
The Maryland GSO hopes to inspire and assist in the creation of more GSOs in the future. They have openly encouraged high school and college students who are interested in starting a GSO at their school to contact them.