ANNANDALE VA-When someone says “symphony orchestra,” they’re probably thinking of some fancy orchestra playing 17th century music written by some dead guy in a powdered wig. However, the Symphony Orchestra of Northern Virginia (SONOVA), based in Alexandria, flipped that idea upside down in their Friday, May 16 concert in Annandale. Level Up was the name of their game: An interactive “controller-based concert” featuring video game music from the last four decades and an on-stage video game designed entirely by the orchestra.
SONOVA is not your typical orchestra. For example, the audience is encouraged to make as much as noise during the concerts as they want. And there is always an overarching theme. From the moment you walk in the door at their performances, you are immersed in a world of video games, winter wonderland, or an enthralling murder mystery.
“Our mission is to provide story-driven, immersive experiences for audiences,” says Ethan Lolley, SONOVA’s conductor and Artistic Director. “When people walk into the door, they feel like they’re a part of a journey or a land or a mission—they’re involved in the action of the concert.”
Level Up took the audience on a “walk down memory lane” of video game history starting from the very beginning of gaming. Orchestral music from Pac-Man, one of the first video games, came first, followed by The Legend of Zelda, Super Mario Brothers and Sonic. Halo and Pokémon were big hits, especially the classic song “Gotta Catch ‘Em All!” It featured a surprise solo by conductor Lolley. He rounded out the concert with arrangements of the themes of God of War and Baldur’s Gate, demonstrating the evolution of gaming.
Accompanying the gaming soundtracks was SONOVA’s very own video game, projected onto a giant screen above the stage. The game’s protagonist, nicknamed “Maestro Lolley,” went around the levels adorably stomping on turtles or killing Pac-Man ghosts, representing the various games. In each level he asked the audience (via Kahoot) what he should do, based on their knowledge of the games.
There was competition as well: The Kahoot game was wildly competitive, with the winner crowned the King of Video Games at the end of the concert. Meanwhile, other gamers could seek eternal glory during intermission in a Mario Kart tournament on the Big Screen. And in the lobby, audience members could play Pac Man, Mario World and other games on archaic TVs and arcade machines that brought them back to the 1980s.
“The audience loved the interactive elements of our concert, which makes me know we’re doing something right,” Lolley says.
During the concert, SONOVA Executive Director Serena Sela emphasized not to discredit video games in art. Game designers have a plethora of things to design, mediums of expression, and ways to get creative, from sounds and music to User Interface to the character design. According to Sela, “in the 21st century, the forms of art and appreciating it are rapidly expanding”—and it has become apparent video games are a growing medium.”
Raised in small town Alabama, Lolley fell in love with orchestra during college and immediately knew that was his calling. Since he became SONOVA’s Artistic Director two years ago, he has led the charge to make the orchestra more fun, immersive and inviting.
“I can’t tell you how many concerts I’ve been to that were amazing, orchestras that played wonderful music, and I still felt my attention span going away,” he says. “We want the audience to be so engaged they don’t have an opportunity to doze off.”
The orchestra’s next season looks to be yet more fun than the last. SONOVA will kick off in October with “Come on Down!”: A live game show-concert where they will invite audience members like you and me to answer questions, score points and win prizes, just like in a real game show. December will see a concert focused on vinyl records, playing every genre of music ever put on vinyl from country to rock to classical. SONOVA also hopes to partner with dance groups to recreate music videos on-stage and “bring the albums to life.”
Next spring, SONOVA will put on a concert focused on myths and legends—think of the Loch Ness Monster, the Leprechaun and Bigfoot. Finally, they will end the season with an art-themed concert where they will play songs inspired by the paintings and sculptures of local artists. After each song, the associated piece of art will be auctioned off to the highest bigger – a community event not to be missed.
By putting on such unconventional performances, SONOVA has staked its place as an innovative, cutting-edge orchestra that brings in people who don’t usually come to orchestral concerts, to its concerts.
“Orchestra music is not for everyone,” Lolley admits. “But we’re trying to make it for everyone.”
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