Buffalo State music students and faculty will join the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra (BPO) for a larger-than-life performance of the runaway hit “Video Games Live,” Friday, July 31, at 8:00 p.m. at Artpark.

An interactive concert experience that showcases past and present video game soundtracks with cutting-edge visuals and technology, this multi-media event will feature choral enhancements from the Buffalo State College Chamber Choir under the direction of Thomas Witakowski, associate professor of music. Music Department chair and associate professor Bradley Fuster, who regularly performs with the BPO, will provide percussion.

Nine Music Department lecturers, also members of the BPO, will perform at this program—Amélie Fradette, cellist; Jacqueline Galluzzo, assistant principal second violin; Amy Glidden, violin and associate concertmaster; Kate Holzemer, violist; Mark Hodges, principal percussion; Anna Mattix, oboe and principal English horn; Jacek Muzyk, principal French horn; and Susan Schuman, accompanist, Music Department.

“Video Games Live” premiered in 2005 at the Hollywood Bowl with the Los Angeles Philharmonic. Since that time, the concert has become a worldwide phenomenon with 60 concerts performed in five continents in 2009 alone.
Student participation in concerts and the opportunity to meet industry professionals, composers, and musicians gives the concert an intended educational benefit.

Tickets are $39–$55. For more information, visit www.bpo.org.