The Irish Video Game Orchestra (IVGO) is made up of various professions, students, IT professionals, fitness instructors, pub owners, aged anywhere between 18 to 60.
The Belfast based musicians come together to create music from video games, anime, film and TV.
There are around 40 members in the IVGO who all have different stories, but their love of music is what launched them into the industry. Pete Fahy, started by going to trad sessions in Kelly’s but many members have been playing music from a young age.
What genre / style do you create in?
Classical and contemporary orchestrated music.
What would you be best known for?
We’re best known for combining dazzling visual displays with dramatic scores at our concerts.
What would you consider your biggest achievement?
The IVGO has accomplished a lot over the years, but we’re very proud of being shortlisted for Amateo and Epic awards.
What would you consider to be the biggest lesson you’ve learned in your industry?
Practice and rehearsals contribute to success. We always want to deliver a great show to our fans so we practice constantly to guarantee an entertaining and memorable performance.
What has been your biggest challenge to date?
Arranging rehearsals during the covid pandemic. We are not able to meet in a large group, but as an orchestra, we need to practice as a collective. The wind and brass sections are considered high risk and so we have to juggle live rehearsals with online practice. This has not deterred us and we continue to find new ways to engage with our audience despite these restrictions.
Tell us a little about your personal life, are you married, kids, hobbies etc?
Everyone in the orchestra has a different story. Some members manage pubs, some are freelance video journalists, some are graphic artists. We all have diverse talents and backgrounds but that diversity gives us dynamism when we play together.
Tell us about your most recent work?
The IVGO has launched a new podcast to stay in touch with our fans. This weekly podcast features orchestra members talking about music, games and lots of cool developments in the video game industry.
What would you like us to tell people about?
The brand new IVGO podcast! It’s a weekly podcast that is fun and fresh and features fabulous content. It’s guaranteed to put a smile on your face so please subscribe to our YouTube channel and tune in each Wednesday to hear the Craic!
If you had to describe your work to someone who has never heard of you what would you say?
Do you remember the Sonic the Hedgehog theme? Or the Super Mario theme? We’re a full orchestra that plays those themes and a thousand other game numbers!
What’s the funniest experience you’ve had in your business?
At a charity fundraiser for Children in Need, our singer Shereen Perera was singing the Pokemon theme with so much gusto that Pudsy the bear stormed the stage and started dancing with her. Shereen didn’t miss a beat and kept singing the song while grooving with her new dance partner.
What would your advice be to young people hoping to pursue the same industry?
Practice, practice, practice. Never give up on your dreams to be in the entertainment industry, but you have to make time to practice, practice, practice.
Anything else you want to tell people about yourself or your work?
Every orchestra member has progressed and developed over the years, but it was working as a team that enabled us to improve. Teamwork makes a real difference!
Who do you look up to and why?
There are many musicians that we admire. Eimear Noone is very well respected as a successful Irish conductor, and we all love the compositions of Nobuo Uematsu, the incredible composer of the Final Fantasy series.
You can keep up with IVGO on the following social pages >>