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The Washington Metropolitan Gamer Symphony Orchestra (WMGSO) is a nonprofit community orchestra whose mission is to share video game music by putting on affordable, accessible concerts in the D.C. area and via our Twitch channel. Our orchestra and choir perform video game music spanning musical genres across decades of video games. WMGSO has recorded two albums - with more recordings in the works! - and releases new music videos on YouTube

Game music weaves a tapestry of the traditions, values and mythos of video game culture. In it we find deep emotion and truths, as well as new ways of expressing ourselves that transcend the medium of games. 

Though the culture is changing, video game soundtracks largely escape recognition in professional musical circles. WMGSO is dedicated to showcasing this art form and highlighting the virtuosity of its composers.

Former WMGSO Board Member Chris Apple shares his answer to one of our most frequently asked questions: Why video game music?

Why do we still tell the stories of “Beowulf,” “Odysseus” and “Hamlet?” Why do we still listen to Beethoven? There is something about them that makes us want to share; we find meaning in them. Meaning in art changes lives, and when you find that kind of meaning you know that others will benefit from it, too.

It’s not the plot or the art or even the music itself that inspires us to share. In these games we find basic truths about life itself. We find ourselves, and new ways of thinking about and expressing ourselves. We find the same meaning that is found in other music, in novels, movies, and other literature, meaning that transcends the medium itself and stays with a person for life. Games are not just children’s toys, they often deal with serious adult ideas, like love, war, politics, religion, parenthood, and poverty. It has changed our lives and brought us happiness, and we know that our audience can find and cherish those truths as well. That makes those truths bigger than us, and compels us to present them to you.

Many of our audience are gamers, and many are not. You may not know the fantastic worlds, characters and stories that unfold in each of these video games. You may not know the gravity of saying that the last Metroid is in captivity, what it means to seek the Promised Land, or the humbling experience of becoming the Hero of Light. But you will know, because those ideas enshrine those basic truths which we will share through our music and our passion for it. Music is a language that bypasses words. It communicates in feelings, motion, color, and light. There is a truth in music itself which can express an idea far better than any statement. By listening to their music, you need not know anything about the games to know how it feels to have experienced them.

So why are we on this stage? Because our minds and our hearts leave us no other choice. This music, these games, this experience is bigger than us, and we want them to be shared as widely as possible, and succeed us when we are gone.

Why Video Game Music?

Main Theme | Final Fantasy VII (1997) | WMGSO
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Main Theme | Final Fantasy VII (1997) | WMGSO
Check out our recently launched Indiegogo campaign: http://wmgso.org/album Main Theme Final Fantasy VII (1997) Composer: Nobuo Uematsu Arranger: Jacob Coppage-Gross Cover art by: Dan Lam Recorded at: Omega Studios Audio Editor: Zeynep Dilli Video Director: David Werner Assistant Video Director: Lee Stearns Floor Director: Vee Kirtz Assistant Floor Director: Ashleah Younker Camera Operators: Dave Shirey & Jimyo Lin Video Editor: Lee Stearns Final Fantasy VII (1997) saw the release of many video game soundtrack classics, with a beautiful range of pieces that capture the essence of its storytelling and characters. The main theme of the game is one of the most well known from the franchise, with a hopeful yet somber melody that soars across a wide dynamic range. In this arrangement, this famous theme is reimagined for cello and piano duet, using a diverse palette of registers and tones to evoke the same beauty that the original version brought to so many gamers. This piece features Jacob Coppage-Gross on the piano and Alex Son on the cello. The group is named Sudowoododuo. The Washington Metropolitan Gamer Symphony Orchestra (WMGSO) is a nonprofit community orchestra whose mission is to share video game music by putting on affordable, accessible concerts in the D.C. area. "WMGSO: The Album" and "WMGSO: The Album DLC" out now! https://wmgso.org/our-music/albums Support WMGSO: https://wmgso.org/donate​​ WMGSO merchandise: https://www.cafepress.com/wmgso​​ Follow WMGSO on social media! Website: https://wmgso.org/​​ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MetroGSO/​​ Twitter: https://twitter.com/wmgso​​ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/washmetrogs... Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/wmgso Thank you to the Maryland State Arts Council for providing us the grant that made this video possible.
Tifa's Theme | Final Fantasy VII (1997) | WMGSO
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Tifa's Theme | Final Fantasy VII (1997) | WMGSO
Check out our recently launched Indiegogo campaign: http://wmgso.org/album Tifa's Theme Final Fantasy VII (1997) Composer: Nobuo Uematsu Arranger: Jamin Morden Cover art by: Dan Lam Recorded at: Omega Studios Audio Editor: Jamin Morden Video Director: David Werner Assistant Video Director: Lee Stearns Floor Director: Vee Kirtz Assistant Floor Director: Ashleah Younker Camera Operators: Dave Shirey & Jimyo Lin Video Editor: Lee Stearns Nobuo Uematsu’s place in the canon of video game music composers is unmistakable and largely based on his work with the Final Fantasy series, with which he has had a long-lasting association not unlike that of John Williams with the Star Wars series. His music is memorable and enriches the game experience. While his greatest genius might be in constructing melodies, close behind is his remarkable range and dexterity with a wide variety of genres and styles. This arrangement for “Tifa” explores the boundaries of the harmonic possibilities of the sweet-but-wistful-but-sweet theme song for the always loyal, steadfast childhood friend of the game’s main character. With the addition of various quotes and references, it presents itself surrounded in the musical context of the game it comes from. This piece features Jamin Morden on horn and Zeynep Dilli on piano. The group is called Freeform. The Washington Metropolitan Gamer Symphony Orchestra (WMGSO) is a nonprofit community orchestra whose mission is to share video game music by putting on affordable, accessible concerts in the D.C. area. "WMGSO: The Album" and "WMGSO: The Album DLC" out now! https://wmgso.org/our-music/albums Support WMGSO: https://wmgso.org/donate​​ WMGSO merchandise: https://www.cafepress.com/wmgso​​ Follow WMGSO on social media! Website: https://wmgso.org/​​ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MetroGSO/​​ Twitter: https://twitter.com/wmgso​​ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/washmetrogs... Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/wmgso Thank you to the Maryland State Arts Council for providing us the grant that made this video possible.
Vamo' alla Flamenco | Final Fantasy IX | WMGSO
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Vamo' alla Flamenco | Final Fantasy IX | WMGSO
Check out our recently launched Indiegogo campaign: http://wmgso.org/album Vamo' alla Flamenco Final Fantasy IX (2000) Composer: Nobuo Uematsu Arranger: Alexander I. Son & Daniel Serino Conductor: Jamin Morden Cover art by: Dan Lam Recorded at: Omega Studios Audio Production: Elias Schwartzman Video Director: David Werner Assistant Video Director: Lee Stearns Floor Director: Vee Kirtz Assistant Floor Director: Ashleah Younker Camera Operators: Dave Shirey & Jimyo Lin Video Editor: Lee Stearns A band of swashbuckling thieves, a grand performance, the clashing of swords, an elaborate ruse, a daring kidnapping of a princess, and a fiery song of passion to drive that action forward. Vamo’ alla Flamenco debuted in Final Fantasy IX during the staged performance by Zidane and the Tantalus Theater Troupe in their attempted kidnapping of Princess Garnet of Alexandria. The song incorporates a strong “Spanish” and flamenco feel while utilizing the chord structure of the traditional baroque tune La Folia. This unique tune has remained popular among fans, subsequently appearing in Final Fantasy XIV and XV. This arrangement presses upon that flamenco soul with its featuring of guitars and castanets, while also incorporating its baroque roots of strings and harpsichord. Violin: Cindy Zhang Andrew Wang Kai Diaz Sherwin Fong Jess Yuen Lauren Barefoot Viola: Claire Bradfuhrer Danielle Daines Victor Ontiveros Cello: Alex Le Floch Alex Son Contrabass: Isabel Martinez Guitar: Dan Serino Les Doerfler Harpsichord: Jacob Coppage-Gross Castanets: Julius Verzosa Soloists (in order of appearance): Alex Le Floch Dan Serino Cindy Zhang Alex Son The Washington Metropolitan Gamer Symphony Orchestra (WMGSO) is a nonprofit community orchestra whose mission is to share video game music by putting on affordable, accessible concerts in the D.C. area. "WMGSO: The Album" and "WMGSO: The Album DLC" out now! https://wmgso.org/our-music/albums Support WMGSO: https://wmgso.org/donate​​ WMGSO merchandise: https://www.cafepress.com/wmgso​​ Follow WMGSO on social media! Website: https://wmgso.org/​​ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MetroGSO/​​ Twitter: https://twitter.com/wmgso​​ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/washmetrogs... Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/wmgso Thank you to the Maryland State Arts Council for providing us the grant that made this video possible.
WMGSO's Second Album Pitch Video
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WMGSO's Second Album Pitch Video
Check out our recently launched Indiegogo campaign: http://wmgso.org/album WMGSO is a D.C. area-video game music orchestra raising funds to record our second studio album! Why​ ​do​ ​we​ ​do​ ​this?​​ ​​It’s​ ​simply​ ​because​ ​we​ ​want​ ​to​ ​share​ ​our​ ​love​ ​of​ ​video​ ​game​ ​music​ ​with everyone.​ ​We​ ​provide​ ​our​ ​audience​ ​with​ ​an​ ​affordable​ ​gateway​ ​into​ ​both​ ​classic