RPO and The Strong collaborate for "Distant Worlds: music from Final Fantasy"

Following the success of "Video Games Live" last season, the RPO will present a symphonic concert on Thursday, October 29 that pays tribute to one of the bestselling video games series' of all time, Final Fantasy. A talk back panel of industry experts will immediately follow the concert, moderated by Shannon Symonds, associate curator of the International Center for the History of Electronic Games at The Strong. The talk back is free to all ticket holders and will explore the music and history of the Final Fantasy series.

Guest panelists:

• Akinori Nakamura, internationally-renowned expert in video game history

• Arnie Roth, conductor and music director of "Distant Worlds: music from Final Fantasy"

• Susan Calloway, vocal soloist and familiar voice on the Final Fantasy franchise

• Stephen Jacobs, assistant director of RIT’s MAGIC (Media Art Games Interaction Creativity) Center and associate professor of Interactive Games and Media

More info:
Shannon Symonds blogs about Final Fantasy composer Nobuo Uetmasu, the "John Williams of the gaming world," and the significance of video game music on the ICHEG blog.

The Wall Street Journal's recent article on the phenomenon of video game music concerts and how they are "saving the symphony orchestra."

Tickets and more information for "Distant Worlds: music from Final Fantasy."

See the London Symphony perform "One-Winged Angel" from Distant World: music from Final Fantasy. The Strong's Shannon Symonds mentions this piece as a personal favorite in her blog!