Carrying on the tradition of previous years, the orchestra’s spring concert on May 9 had yet another unique theme: video games. The three orchestra groups (Concert One, Concert Two, and Symphonic Orchestra), along with students from the band, performed a wide range of video game music, from classics such as Minecraft and Super Mario to trending games like Legends of Zelda and Harry Potter: Wizards Unite. They also played some classical pieces.

The students were not just playing the music; some even arranged pieces for the concert. Senior William Lian arranged a medley of four musical pieces from Legends of Zelda and junior Asher Koh arranged a Super Nintendo medley. Musical arrangement can be difficult because it requires adapting a piece(s) from one musical style to another. As a result, the challenge in this concert was adapting video game music, which is typically played on electronic devices and synths, to orchestral string instruments, such as violin and cello.

“People think you’re just translating [music], but there’s a lot more nuance to it,” Lian said. “Sometimes when you’re arranging a piece that’s not easily transcribable into strings, you have to take some creative liberties. I’d say that’s probably the hard part: when you’re trying to make it entertaining.”

Not just the orchestra students performed at the concert, but approximately 20 band students joined them as well, making it a full orchestra ensemble. As such, Koh specifically arranged the music to fit both the orchestra and band instruments. He has a systematic process for arranging the medley. “I usually find a good recording of the original music. Then, by ear, I’ll just give the melody,” Koh said. “I know the bass is having this line play, so I give that to a lower instrument. Then, I’ll just slowly start to fill everything in between.”

Lian believes that arranging music was a great learning opportunity for him to test the knowledge he has learned throughout the years.

“When you’re playing in an orchestra, you pick up little bits on how the ensemble works,” Lian said. “Then, when you’re arranging something for the string orchestra, you get to test all that.”

Koh appreciates the opportunity Orchestra Director Alicia Bont has given him to arrange music for the orchestra.

“I feel very privileged because it is nice having my music played by real people instead of computer instruments,” Koh said.

Besides the music, there was an exhibition on the evolution of video games and an interactive video game experience for the audience; while the audience were enjoying refreshments and desserts, they could dance along to songs just like in the popular video game Just Dance. With the variety of activities going on in the concert, there had to be a sound technical team to back it up. Senior William Unk, along with sophomore Finn Borchardt and freshman Allie Henroid, managed the sound and light tech for the concert.

“We’re going to be projecting videos of the video game while we’re playing the music,” Unk said. “After the concert, Ms. Bont wants to have Just Dance playing on the cyclorama (panel in the background). She also wants the disco ball, which is hanging up there [in the theater] right now.”

Unk has been managing the sound and lights for concerts theater events for over two years now. He sets up the microphone and lights during his free time at school, and makes sure everything is ready prior to the concert.

“What needs to be done before concerts is making sure all the lights are pointed in a good spot and making sure everyone’s lit, especially in the back of the stage,” Unk said. “In the two hours before the concert, I’ll make the light cues (the order in which the lights go on and off in the theater).”

Another interesting component of the concert is its recording. Senior Judah Sloane, who has his own recording studio, has planned to get a high quality recording of the concert, which requires a rather complex microphone set up.

“So we’re gonna have mics everywhere and it’ll be kind of complicated,” Unk said. “That won’t affect the concert itself, but the tech is still there; it’s still happening.”

Unk is looking forward to seeing the outcome of the concert recording. “I’ve always recorded the concerts, but it’s been a very low effort, low quality recording,” Unk said. “So, with all that extra stuff we’re going to be doing this concert with Judah, I’m really excited to see how that turns out.”

Junior Hannah Wolkowitz is one of the band members working with the orchestra. She played both alto and soprano saxophone at the concert.

“It’s definitely different [from the band] because I don’t get to play with strings so often, especially as a saxophonist,” Wolkowitz said. “So I really enjoyed it. I think it’s a nice change.”

As this was the class of 2024’s last high school orchestra concert, the seniors were honored with special thank you gifts.

“The end of high school hasn’t hit me yet,” Unk said. “I’ve gotten into such a cycle of, ‘I know exactly what needs to happen for every concert’ and not having that next year . . . it’s a little scary to think about.”

While Lian will miss playing with this orchestra, he has exciting future plans for his musical journey.

“It’s bittersweet, I guess,” Lian said. “I’m definitely going to be involved in music in college, so I have that to look forward to.”

Bont hopes that her students continue to engage with the music they see in the world around them.

“I’ve learned that this is something that’s important, as I’ve been doing the video game concert specifically, that if you find something that you’re interested in, it’s always good to learn more about it and show that you appreciate it with your attendance and your respect,” she said.

Students believe that the concert not only allowed the audience to enjoy pleasant music but exposed them to a unique learning experience.

“I feel like a lot of people don’t think about it much; it’s just kind of there in the background,” Unk said. “But, when it’s the only thing here — like the music is the main focus here — people can learn more about that.”

Additionally, Bont wants the audience to realize how important music is in people’s daily lives, even in the places they don’t notice very often.

“I hope they gain a greater appreciation of that genre of music, and can see how it is evolving the [same] way Western classical music is performed,” Bont said. “Hopefully, they see it as more than just an accompaniment to the game. It’s its own music in itself, and it’s worth studying.”