The Baltimore Gamer Symphony Orchestra (BGSO) presented their “Made in Maryland” concert virtually on December 11th, featuring music from video games that were developed in their home state. The free concert featured music from Fallout 2, Fallout 3, The Elder Scrolls II, Daggerfall, F.E.A.R. 3, XCOM, Civilization V, Civilization VI, Kingdom of Amalur: Reckoning, Flutter Bombs, and Squirrely Roo Rabbit. In addition to the music, the concert also included messages from video game music composers.
“The point of this orchestra is the community first and foremost,” said Tad Howley, Music Director, and Conductor. “Whatever balance or instrumentation we end up with, whatever sorts of arrangements that get made for us for our particular instrumentation, that’s all fine. It’s all gonna sound different. It’s all gonna sound like us. We’re really just here to play music with each other.”
Though the concert was recorded and presented virtually, it marks the first time the full BGSO is performing together in person again during the COVID-19 pandemic. The group was originally set to hold their Made in Maryland concert in the spring of 2020 but had to pause its plans when the pandemic emerged.
It wasn’t game over for the orchestra group, however. Over the past year and a half, the BGSO has presented small ensemble and solo performances virtually. Currently, the BGSO has nearly 60 members. It is a non-auditioning orchestra with no cap on the number of each instrument, so the sizes of sections fluctuate.
(All information was provided by Baltimore Fishbowl)