Some classical musicians may be more familiar with Handel than Halo, but SFCM students and video game classics joined forces at the Game Developers Conference, where their video game orchestra took center stage, with thousands in attendance.

For the 2024 Main Stage event, an orchestra composed almost completely of SFCM students performed a medley of notable game scores throughout history, with a spotlight on the last year. The performance included music from games Halo, The Last of Us, and The Legend of Zelda to name a few, all performing under notable conductor and composer Austin Wintory on March 20 to an audience of hundreds.

SFCM students perform on stage.

Student Jessica Folson was struck by the crowd's energy. "People would cheer when one of their favorite games was represented. I loved the energy in the audience and how quickly people would recognize a game just by the soundtrack," she said. "I think that says a lot about the impact of music in games." Folson is a violinist studying with Simon James.

The Game Developers Conference brought nearly 30,000 attendees to San Francisco for a week of all things gaming. The performance came together after Wintory contacted SFCM's Professional Development and Engagement Center (PDEC) and Hire SFCM looking to create a musical performance instead of a keynote speech. "We quickly worked to build an orchestra through Hire SFCM that gathered current students who had experience playing to a click track, and possessed musical flexibility with any last-minute score changes," said PDEC Director Kristen Klehr. "These types of gigs are offering real-world experience that I hope our students embrace," she continued. "These opportunities give our students a competitive advantage in the music industry as they graduate." 

Unique performance opportunities like this are not uncommon for Hire SFCM. In the past students have even performed at pro-wrestling events and last year, the program paid out more than $100,000 to SFCM students.

For students like violinist Aleksi Zaretsky (who also studies with James) it was a full circle and memorable moment. "I thoroughly enjoyed getting to play music from many of the games I played growing up for such a large and enthusiastic audience," Zaretsky said. 

Daniel Tan, a violinist studying with Cordula Merks, echoed Folson on the crowd reaction. "The most enjoyable part was getting to perform for an audience who was clearly passionate about the music being played," he said. "It was really fun to hear their excitement and they were extremely vocal in their appreciation, which for me, never gets old."

While the orchestra performance was the centerpiece of the conference, it was just one of several ways SFCM was involved—Technology and Applied Composition (TAC) Director Steven Horowitz led a panel, while TAC professor Daria Novoliantceva orchestrated a performance at the awards ceremony. 

"There is a growing need for live music entertainment with organizations trying to engage audiences with music in new ways, including classical," Klehr said, "And SFCM, with its deep pool of incredibly talented musicians, is ready to meet that demand." 

Learn more about Hire SFCM or the Professional Development and Engagement Center.