SONIC SYMPHONY WITH THE MSO

Saturday, April 6, 2024 at 7:30 pm

Sunday, April 7, 2024 at 2:30 pm

ALLEN-BRADLEY HALL

Shota Nakama, guitarist, producer

Ardrienne Cowan, lead vocalist

Derek Dupuis, keyboardist

Louis A. Ochoa, bassist

Blaize Collard, drummer

MPG LIVE Presents

Act I

Sonic the Hedgehog Medley - Masato Nakamura/arr. Tee Lopes and soundtrec

Sonic the Hedgehog 2 Medley - Masato Nakamura/arr. soundtrec

Sky Sanctuary - SEGA/arr. Jan Sanejko

Sonic Mania Medley - Tee Lopes/arr. Jan Sanejko

Believe in Myself - It Doesn’t Matter - Jun Senoue/arr. Falk Au Yeong and Shota Nakama

Chao Medley - Fumie Kumatani/arr. Jan Sanejko and Shota Nakama

Rooftop Run - Tomoya Ohtani/arr. Jan Sanejko

Aquarium Park - Tomoya Ohtani/arr. Jan Sanejko

Sonic Frontiers Medley - Tomoya Ohtani/arr. Falk Au Yeong and Shota Nakama

Continued on next page

ACT II

I Am… All Of Me - Jun Senoue/arr. Shota Nakama

What I’m Made Of - Jun Senoue/arr. Shota Nakama

Open Your Heart - Jun Senoue and Kenichi Tokoi/arr. Shota Nakama

Knight of the Wind - Jun Senoue/arr. Shota Nakama

His World - Tomoya Ohtani/arr. Shota Nakama

Reach for the Stars - Tomoya Ohtani/arr. Shota Nakama

Fist Bump - Tomoya Ohtani/arr. Shota Nakama

Endless Possibility - Tomoya Ohtani/arr. Shota Nakama and Sachiko Miyano

Break Through It All - Tomoya Ohtani/arr. Shota Nakama

Undefeatable - Tomoya Ohtani/arr. Shota Nakama

Find Your Flame - Tomoya Ohtani/arr. Shota Nakama

I’m Here – Revisited - Tomoya Ohtani/arr. Shota Nakama

The length of this concert is approximately 2 hours and 6 minutes, including intermission. All programs are subject to change.

The length of this concert is approximately 2 hours and 6 minutes, including intermission.

SHOTA NAKAMA, guitarist, producer

Born and raised in Okinawa, Shota Nakama is a renowned music producer in Boston, Massachusetts. Nakama leads the Sonic Symphony team as the producer and performs with the band on stage as the guitarist. Having worked on many successful international video game and anime concerts, Nakama was appointed by SEGA to produce the tour. Specializing in the epic collaboration of rock and orchestral music, Nakama is the lead arranger of Sonic Symphony.

Credits include: Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII, Kingdom Hearts

HD 2.5 ReMIX, Distant Worlds: Music from Final Fantasy, Final Fantasy XV, Final Fantasy XII, Eorzean Symphony: Final Fantasy XIV, No Straight Roads, Bayonetta 3

ARDRIENNE COWAN, lead vocalist

Adrienne Cowan is a metal vocalist, songwriter, and orchestrator, known for her versatility, technical ability, and emotionally-charged art. With a passion for catharsis, she has captivated dark hearts around the world with Seven Spires’s’ bittersweet melodies and soulbaring stories. She is a touring member of the supergroup metal opera project, Avantasia. Outside of the metal world, she is the voice actor behind Mikaela Reid (Dead By Daylight) and has appeared on soundtracks of games and anime including RWBY, Guilty Gear Strive, and Arknights.

Credits include: Avantasia, Seven Spires, RWBY, Guilty Gear, Arknights

DEREK DUPUIS, keyboardist

Derek Dupuis is a multi-instrumentalist from Salem, Massachusetts, specializing in keyboard and vocal performance. Dupuis can be seen frequently performing in the New York and Boston area. He is actively releasing his original music online while continuing his performance career throughout the U.S.

Credits include: Autumn Jones, Sarah and the Wild Versatile, Steve Burke

Guest Artist Biographies

MPG LIVE

LOUIS A. OCHOA, bassist

Louis Andre Ochoa is a versatile bassist residing in the Boston area. Ochoa was raised in the Philippines and started performing in local clubs as a teenager. After relocating to the U.S. to pursue his musical career, he quickly gained attention from the local scene and began working as a session and live music performer. Ochoa plays bass, sings background vocals, and raps for Sonic Symphony.

Credits include: G5, God Eater 2: Rage Burst, Final Fantasy XV, RWBY, Dragon Marked for Death, Dr. Stone, Bayonetta 3

BLAIZE COLLARD, drummer

Born in England and raised in the U.S., Blaize Collard is a drummer specializing in rock and modern metal styles. In addition to touring with Sonic Symphony, he performs with several Boston-based metal bands. Collard is also an avid music educator and an assistant professor at the prestigious Berklee College of Music, growing the future generation of drummers.

Credits include: G5, Chuggernaut, Final Fantasy XV

SONIC SYMPHONY

Sonic Symphony is an immersive live experience that celebrates more than three decades of music from SEGA’s iconic mascot. From the classic 8-bit and 16-bit tunes to rock and EDM songs, this concert will take you on a musical journey through the colorful world of Sonic the Hedgehog. Prepare to relive your favorite Sonic moments, brought to life by a full symphony orchestra. Sonic Symphony is an electrifying tribute to the music that has defined generations of gamers, old and new.

MGP Live is an international entertainment company based in New York City specializing in producing concerts and a variety of other special events. For over 40 years, Massimo Gallotta, Founder and President of MGP Live, has been a leading promoter in the international music scene. With an eclectic roster of clients, MGP Live has also championed the niche world of the multimedia symphonic experience, producing and promoting symphony tours worldwide such as: Nintendo’s The Legend of Zelda: Symphony of the Goddesses, Square Enix’s Distant Worlds: Music from Final Fantasy, Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creed Symphony, Warner Bros/DC Comics The Batman Live in Concert and Batman 1989 – 35th Anniversary Concert. www.mgplive.com

2023.24 SEASON

KEN-DAVID MASUR

Music Director

Polly and Bill Van Dyke

Music Director Chair

EDO DE WAART

Music Director Laureate

RYAN TANI

Assistant Conductor

CHERYL FRAZES HILL

Chorus Director

Margaret Hawkins Chorus Director Chair

TIMOTHY J. BENSON

Assistant Chorus Director

FIRST VIOLINS

Jinwoo Lee, Concertmaster, Charles and Marie Caestecker Concertmaster Chair

Ilana Setapen, First Associate Concertmaster

Jeanyi Kim, Associate Concertmaster

Alexander Ayers

Yuka Kadota

Elliot Lee**

Ji-Yeon Lee

Dylana Leung

Kyung Ah Oh

Lijia Phang

Yuanhui Fiona Zheng

SECOND VIOLINS

Jennifer Startt, Principal, Andrea and Woodrow Leung Second Violin Chair

Timothy Klabunde, Assistant Principal

John Bian, Assistant Principal (3rd chair)

Glenn Asch

Lisa Johnson Fuller

Paul Hauer

Hyewon Kim

Alejandra Switala**

Mary Terranova

VIOLAS

Robert Levine, Principal, Richard O. and Judith A. Wagner Family Principal Viola Chair

Georgi Dimitrov, Assistant Principal (2nd chair), Friends of Janet F. Ruggeri Viola Chair

Samantha Rodriguez, Assistant Principal (3rd chair)

Alejandro Duque, Acting Assistant Principal (3rd chair)

Elizabeth Breslin

Nathan Hackett

Erin H. Pipal

Helen Reich

CELLOS

Susan Babini, Principal, Dorothea C. Mayer Cello Chair

Nicholas Mariscal, Assistant Principal*

Shinae Ra, Acting Assistant Principal (2nd chair)

Scott Tisdel, Associate Principal Emeritus

Madeleine Kabat

Peter Szczepanek

Peter J. Thomas

Adrien Zitoun

BASSES

Jon McCullough-Benner, Principal, Donald B. Abert Bass Chair*

Andrew Raciti, Acting Principal

Nash Tomey, Acting Assistant Principal (2nd chair)

Brittany Conrad

Teddy Gabrieledes**

Peter Hatch*

Paris Myers

HARP

Julia Coronelli, Principal, Walter Schroeder Harp Chair

FLUTES

Sonora Slocum, Principal, Margaret and Roy Butter Flute Chair

Heather Zinninger, Assistant Principal

Jennifer Bouton Schaub

PICCOLO

Jennifer Bouton Schaub

OBOES

Katherine Young Steele, Principal, Milwaukee Symphony League Oboe Chair

Kevin Pearl, Assistant Principal

Margaret Butler

ENGLISH HORN

Margaret Butler, Philip and Beatrice Blank English Horn Chair in memoriam to John Martin

CLARINETS

Todd Levy, Principal, Franklyn Esenberg Clarinet Chair

Benjamin Adler, Assistant Principal, Donald and Ruth P. Taylor Assistant Principal Clarinet Chair*

Taylor Eiffert*

Madison Freed**

E-FLAT CLARINET

Benjamin Adler*

BASS CLARINET

Taylor Eiffert*

Madison Freed**

BASSOONS

Catherine Van Handel, Principal, Muriel C. and John D. Silbar Family Bassoon Chair

Rudi Heinrich, Assistant Principal

Beth W. Giacobassi

CONTRABASSOON

Beth W. Giacobassi

HORNS

Matthew Annin, Principal, Krause Family French Horn Chair

Krystof Pipal, Associate Principal

Dietrich Hemann, Andy Nunemaker French Horn Chair

Darcy Hamlin

Kelsey Williams**

TRUMPETS

Matthew Ernst, Principal, Walter L. Robb Family Trumpet Chair

David Cohen, Associate Principal, Martin J. Krebs Associate Principal Trumpet Chair

TROMBONES

Megumi Kanda, Principal, Marjorie Tiefenthaler Trombone Chair

Kirk Ferguson, Assistant Principal

BASS TROMBONE

John Thevenet, Richard M. Kimball Bass Trombone Chair

TUBA

Robyn Black, Principal, John and Judith Simonitsch Tuba Chair

TIMPANI

Dean Borghesani, Principal

Chris Riggs, Assistant Principal

PERCUSSION

Robert Klieger, Principal

Chris Riggs

PIANO

Melitta S. Pick Endowed Piano Chair

PERSONNEL MANAGER

Françoise Moquin, Director of Orchestra Personnel

LIBRARIANS

Paul Beck, Principal Librarian, Anonymous Donor, Principal Librarian Chair

Matthew Geise, Assistant Librarian & Media Archivist

PRODUCTION

Tristan Wallace, Production Manager/ Live Audio

* Leave of Absence 2023.24 Season

** Acting member of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra 2023.24 Season