The Elsewhen Orchestra performs July 29 at 7 p.m. at the Davidson High School Auditorium. Admission is free, though seating is limited, and family-friendly cosplay is encouraged.
The group started around 2014 as an idea from organizer Jonathan Reynolds, who loved orchestral music but had no outlet to perform full symphonic repertoire. After attending Mobile Symphony concerts regularly, he began asking around and slowly built a roster of local musicians. The challenge, he said, was finding string players willing to volunteer — the area has strong wind bands but few full orchestras with a wind section.
“Link to the Past”
The concert, titled Link to the Past, is a tribute to composer Koji Kondo, whose work on Super Mario Bros. and The Legend of Zelda is among the most recognized in the world. The orchestra will feature several Zelda arrangements alongside a selection from Super Mario Galaxy, the first Mario game to use recorded orchestral music.
Kondo has cited Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concertos as an influence, so the concert opens with the first movement of Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2, featuring Daniel Driskell of Full Scale School of Music.
Building something new
Reynolds’ other goal was to reach people who might not consider themselves classical fans. If the response is strong and the musicians want to continue, he’s considering forming a nonprofit to make the orchestra official.