Who would have guessed that one of the only orchestras in the country completely focused on video game music was founded right here in Northeast Ohio by two Golden Flashes?
“We are all video game music, all the time, 24/7,” said Andrew Keller, co-founder, chief executive officer and music director for Video Game Symphony, who earned a Ph.D. in music theory composition in 2019 from Kent State.
The symphony, which began in 2023, has quickly gained attention for its innovative approach to classical music and its appeal to a broad audience.
Keller co-founded the symphony with Jaclyn Kurtz, who serves as president and artistic director. Kurtz earned master's degrees in music theory and performance in 2014 from Kent State. This is where the two met – at Kent State's School of Music, where they bonded over their shared love for video game scores, . Wanting to be able to perform this unique genre themselves, Kurtz and Keller decided to establish the Video Game Symphony, aiming to bring the music they love to a larger audience.
Kurtz shared the origin of the idea earlier this year. “We have loved video game music since we were children,” she said. “For us and for so many, it is incredibly nostalgic.”
The full 65-piece orchestra is comprised of half professional musicians, while the other half includes students and talented volunteers. Keller has been instrumental in arranging the symphony’s pieces, as much of the video game music for orchestras is not readily available.
The Video Game Symphony has performed at various venues, including ѿappand ColossalCon, drawing audiences who may not be familiar with video game music. Their repertoire includes scores from popular games such as Pokémon, Final Fantasy and The Legend of Zelda.
“Everybody just really wants to be there,” Keller shared with Channel 19 News. “They all love this music. We work as a team and if you grew up with this music, it’s part of who you are. It’s something that brings you back, it brings you joy. It brings us joy and we want to bring that joy to other people.”
The symphony practices at University Church on East Summit Street, thanks to a partnership that began when Kurtz reached out for rehearsal space. According to The Portager, the church has embraced the group, providing rehearsal space rent-free and fostering a warm relationship with the musicians.
The Video Game Symphony has upcoming performances scheduled for Aug. 3 at the Cleveland Public Library and Aug. 10 at the Akron-Summit County Library.