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Performances
After Video Game Pianist’s initial online introduction, which he estimates has
been downloaded by more than 40 million people , he began performing video game
music from other popular gaming series' including Legend of Zelda, Sonic the
Hedgehog, Halo, Earthworm Jim, and Final Fantasy. As Video Game Pianist released
more videos of him performing, showcasing a broader collection of video game
music, his work began to show up on iFilm, MSN Video, Ebaums World, Gprime,
Muchosucko, and Albino Blacksheep.
In February 2005, noticing Video Game Pianist’s skill and growing popularity,
Tommy Tallarico asked Video Game Pianist to join his upcoming Video Games Live
tour, the first North American concert tour devoted entirely to video game
music. Before making appearances with VGL, Tallarico asked Video Game Pianist to
perform at the newly minted Walk of Game and at 2005’s Game Developers
Conference’s Game Audio Network Guild Awards (G.A.N.G). In May 2005, he was
hired by BradyGames to perform piano at its E3 booth. On July 6, 2005, Video
Game Live's premiere, Video Game Pianist performed piano arrangements of Final
Fantasy’s "The Prelude" and "One Winged Angel” to approximately 11,000 fans in
the Hollywood Bowl. Notable attendees include Hideo Kojima, Koji Kondo (via
pre-recorded video), Lorne Lanning, Yuji Naka, Marty O’Donnell, and Ted Price .
At the March 2006 Game Developers Conference, Video Game Pianist performed his
piano arrangements of the Zelda, Monkey Island, Halo 2, Myst, and Advent Rising
games at G.A.N.G; some of the composers for these games including Tim Larkin,
Clint Bajakian, Marty O'Donnell, Jack Wall, and Tommy Tallarico were in
attendance. During the GDC, Video Game Pianist also played songs from Final
Fantasy at the Video Games Live sold-out concert in the San Jose Civic
Auditorium.
On June 3rd, 2006 Video Game Pianist performed his Final Fantasy Medley, along
with an encore presentation of Super Mario Brothers music (while blindfolded)
after the concert had ended, at the Merriam Theatre in Philadelphia, PA as part
of the Video Games Live tour.
On September 1, 2006 Video Game Pianist again performed his Final Fantasy Medley
and Super Mario Brothers music (blindfolded) at Toronto's Massey Hall as part of
Video Games Live. In addition, Video Game Pianist performed the Game Boy music
version of Tetris and much to the surprise of VGL Co-founder Tommy Tallarico, a
version of Earthworm Jim at blazing speed.
On November 12 and 19, 2006 Video Game Pianist again performed his Final Fantasy
Medley and Super Mario Brothers music (blindfolded) at Rio de Janeiro in Claro
Hall and at São Paulo in Via Funchal as part of the Video Games Live in Brazil.
In addition, Video Game Pianist performed the Super Mario World theme, and the
Game Boy music version of Tetris. He did the same on the 25th of November,
performing for 3000 fans at the Hammersmith Apollo, London.
Trivia
Video Game Pianist has been covered by Advanced Media Network, The Cleveland
Plain Dealer, Nintendo Power, GAME Magazine, CUBE Magazine, Night Life Montreal,
MTV, 1UP.com, GameSpot, and Slashdot.
He has three goals he wishes to accomplish: promote and elevate video game
music's image, enhance the piano’s image so it can become a more mainstream
instrument, and, since he believes a bridge exists between classical and video
game music, his third goal is to popularize classical music .
When Video Game Pianist performed at the Alamo Drafthouse in Austin, Texas, on
October 13, 2005, he was spurred by the audience to do 21 encores .
Video Game Pianist has been called a prodigy by the Phoenix New Times, River
Front Times, and the East Bay Express.
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