By S.T. Boyer
nsfeatures@news-sentinel.com
[originally published 2/7/2008]
What happens to a man whose life parallels the evolution of video games? For Tommy Tallarico, an innate talent for music and a love for classical scores blossomed into the entertainment hit, “Video Games Live.”
“Video Games Live” first played in Los Angeles in 2005, and has toured with orchestras and choruses all over the world. On Feb. 15, “Video Games Live” comes to the Embassy Theatre to play with the Fort Wayne Philharmonic. It will be the first time the international sensation has played in Indiana.
Tallarico grew up in Springfield, Mass. His family loved music, especially his cousin, Steven (Tallarico) Tyler, lead singer of Aerosmith. Tommy Tallarico had a talent for picking up music by ear and, as a child, was able to play “Great Balls of Fire,” by Jerry Lee Lewis. Tallarico also grew up going to movies such as “Star Wars” and “Rocky” with surging classical scores.
“Video Games Live” was created to bring the best aspects of the video-game world to a classical audience and bring gamers into the audience of classical music. Tommy Tallarico sees it as two different branches of the musical family tree fusing together to create an enduring experience.
The performance includes music played by the philharmonic, vocals from the Philharmonic Chorus, and lights and video-game clips synchronized to the music.
For people concerned about video-game violence, Tallarico was quick to point out that the performance doesn't seek to glorify violent video games. In the video-game scenes, the characters may sometimes be carrying weapons, but there is no violent action during the performance.
Tallarico said “Video Games Live” has a universal appeal.
According to the Entertainment Software Association ( www.theesa.com), which tracks statistics of the video game industry, 67 percent of American households play computer and video games. The average age for a video game player is 33 years. Most importantly, 85 percent of video games sold in 2006 carried the E (everyone), E10+ ( age 10 and older), or T (teen) ratings, meaning that the majority of video games sold were not the graphic, violent M-rated (mature) games.
Some symphony musicians Tallarico has worked with were skeptical about music from video games - until they rehearsed the performance and became hooked, he said.
“Video games have evolved into our culture,” Tallarico added. His favorite piece of music is Beethoven's 9th Symphony, known as “Ode to Joy.” Tallarico feels if Beethoven were alive today, he'd be composing music for video games.
Composing a video-game score is similar to a regular score, Tallarico said, but there are differences in the way the composers work. For video games, a composer is given an action scenario, and he writes for what is programmed to happen in the sequence.
The biggest challenge for “Video Games Live” is getting audiences to realize it's not a typical symphony performance.
Tallarico will be the host and emcee, while co-creator Jack Wall will conduct the orchestra. Tallarico wants to see audiences grow for both video games and classical music, but, more important, he feels the show brings together family members who may all have different tastes in music.
Screen to stage
What: “Video Games Live” with the Fort Wayne Philharmonic
When: 8 p.m. Feb. 15
Where: Embassy Theatre, 121 W. Jefferson Blvd.
Cost: Tickets start at $20 and are available through the Philharmonic box office at 456-2224 or online at www.
Additional information: A pre-show festival open to all ticket holders begins at 6:30 p.m. The festival will include video-game demonstrations, a costume contest and prizes. There is also a post-show meet-and-greet. Both are no additional cost for ticket holders.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Thursday, February 7, 2008
Saturday, January 26, 2008
Thursday, January 24, 2008
The Fort Wayne Urban League- United Way of Allen County
[Republished from the Fort Wayne News-Sentinel. Link to original story.]
Urban League targets economic equality
Agency's programs help city's poor to improve themselves, no matter what their age.
By S.T. Boyer
nsmetro@news-sentinel.com
Editor's note: The United Way supports 36 Allen County agencies that have touched or will touch almost all our lives. These agencies exist to serve our community. This is one in a series of stories The News-Sentinel is publishing periodically to help generate a better awareness in the community about what United Way agencies are designed to accomplish and some of the lives they affect.
For more than 80 years, the Fort Wayne Urban League has advocated for economic equality and self-reliance for the urban poor and others. But several residents may be unaware of the many ways this agency can assist them.
“Anyone who walks through the door can and does receive assistance,” said Fort Wayne Urban League President and CEO Jonathan C. Ray. The Urban League, 2135 S. Hanna St., which receives some funding from the local United Way, has programs for every age group, with the ultimate goals of economic equality, self-reliance and social justice in mind.
“Economic empowerment is key,” Ray said. He feels that most of the time, the biggest obstacle against people being empowered is a lack of money. “You don't feel very powerful if you don't have any money.”
The Urban League offers financial counseling and new-homebuyer counseling in partnership with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Ray said the organization is taking the housing program a step further with six-month follow-up counseling.
According to Ray, many clients who have gone through financial counseling and buy homes still get into financial problems. Ray feels lenders who target the poor often use predatory lending practices. “When people become homeowners, people accept credit opportunities when they really can't afford it,” Ray said.
Because of the many challenges facing the community today, the Urban League is working to make sure the next generation is headed for success.
Ray feels the key to empowering urban children to succeed in life is to prepare them to succeed in school.
One of the league's many programs is the Read and Rise program, focused on children under age 5 who need assistance in developing reading skills.
“We actually do cold-calling and knocking on doors,” Ray said. That's something Ray feels is unique to the program. The personal interaction with the children and the parents helps to get things started in the right direction.
For children already in school, the Urban League offers programs to help with homework. Ray pointed out that everyone takes education seriously. There are no game rooms for children to play in after school; the focus is academics.
To prepare for college, the Urban League offers the New Lights program, which gets students ready to study hard by visiting campuses.
Ray said the program teaches the children to make good choices by exposing them to the higher-education environment before they go to college.
The college and career help continue for adults. The league has job placement programs with several local businesses and has partnered with Brown Mackie College to provide classrooms.
The classroom partnership gives the community access to college training close to home. Computers from Ivy Tech Community College help with the League's computer instruction programs for all ages, from youth to seniors.
Even with its vast array of programs and services, the Fort Wayne Urban League is more than the sum of its parts.
Ray feels the new Hanna Street campus, which opened in 2005, provides the urban community with a true center.
Whether people are coming for skills training, job placement, housing assistance, youth programs, computer education, voting in the polling place, or just stopping by to use the bus shelter, the league symbolizes usefulness and help to anyone in need of assistance.
“We help people take the next step,” Ray said.
Reaching out
Organization: Fort Wayne Urban League
Address: 2135 S. Hanna St.
Phone: 745-3100
Web site: www.fwurbanleague.org
Mission: To enable urban poor and others to secure economic self-reliance, parity, power and civil rights.
Founded: The league was originally founded in 1920 as the Fort Wayne Community Association. The association joined the National Urban League in 1949 and became the Fort Wayne Urban League.
Annual budget: $981,000
United Way Funding: $111,000
President/CEO: Jonathan Ray
Employees: 12 full-time, 15 part-time, over 200 volunteers
Key services: Childhood literacy, youth center, homework help, creative workshops, drug prevention education, computer instruction, housing counseling, job training and referral, financial literacy
Clients assisted in 2006: About 2,200 directly and 23,000 through various partnerships
Urban League targets economic equality
Agency's programs help city's poor to improve themselves, no matter what their age.
By S.T. Boyer
nsmetro@news-sentinel.com
Editor's note: The United Way supports 36 Allen County agencies that have touched or will touch almost all our lives. These agencies exist to serve our community. This is one in a series of stories The News-Sentinel is publishing periodically to help generate a better awareness in the community about what United Way agencies are designed to accomplish and some of the lives they affect.
For more than 80 years, the Fort Wayne Urban League has advocated for economic equality and self-reliance for the urban poor and others. But several residents may be unaware of the many ways this agency can assist them.
“Anyone who walks through the door can and does receive assistance,” said Fort Wayne Urban League President and CEO Jonathan C. Ray. The Urban League, 2135 S. Hanna St., which receives some funding from the local United Way, has programs for every age group, with the ultimate goals of economic equality, self-reliance and social justice in mind.
“Economic empowerment is key,” Ray said. He feels that most of the time, the biggest obstacle against people being empowered is a lack of money. “You don't feel very powerful if you don't have any money.”
The Urban League offers financial counseling and new-homebuyer counseling in partnership with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Ray said the organization is taking the housing program a step further with six-month follow-up counseling.
According to Ray, many clients who have gone through financial counseling and buy homes still get into financial problems. Ray feels lenders who target the poor often use predatory lending practices. “When people become homeowners, people accept credit opportunities when they really can't afford it,” Ray said.
Because of the many challenges facing the community today, the Urban League is working to make sure the next generation is headed for success.
Ray feels the key to empowering urban children to succeed in life is to prepare them to succeed in school.
One of the league's many programs is the Read and Rise program, focused on children under age 5 who need assistance in developing reading skills.
“We actually do cold-calling and knocking on doors,” Ray said. That's something Ray feels is unique to the program. The personal interaction with the children and the parents helps to get things started in the right direction.
For children already in school, the Urban League offers programs to help with homework. Ray pointed out that everyone takes education seriously. There are no game rooms for children to play in after school; the focus is academics.
To prepare for college, the Urban League offers the New Lights program, which gets students ready to study hard by visiting campuses.
Ray said the program teaches the children to make good choices by exposing them to the higher-education environment before they go to college.
The college and career help continue for adults. The league has job placement programs with several local businesses and has partnered with Brown Mackie College to provide classrooms.
The classroom partnership gives the community access to college training close to home. Computers from Ivy Tech Community College help with the League's computer instruction programs for all ages, from youth to seniors.
Even with its vast array of programs and services, the Fort Wayne Urban League is more than the sum of its parts.
Ray feels the new Hanna Street campus, which opened in 2005, provides the urban community with a true center.
Whether people are coming for skills training, job placement, housing assistance, youth programs, computer education, voting in the polling place, or just stopping by to use the bus shelter, the league symbolizes usefulness and help to anyone in need of assistance.
“We help people take the next step,” Ray said.
Reaching out
Organization: Fort Wayne Urban League
Address: 2135 S. Hanna St.
Phone: 745-3100
Web site: www.fwurbanleague.org
Mission: To enable urban poor and others to secure economic self-reliance, parity, power and civil rights.
Founded: The league was originally founded in 1920 as the Fort Wayne Community Association. The association joined the National Urban League in 1949 and became the Fort Wayne Urban League.
Annual budget: $981,000
United Way Funding: $111,000
President/CEO: Jonathan Ray
Employees: 12 full-time, 15 part-time, over 200 volunteers
Key services: Childhood literacy, youth center, homework help, creative workshops, drug prevention education, computer instruction, housing counseling, job training and referral, financial literacy
Clients assisted in 2006: About 2,200 directly and 23,000 through various partnerships
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Digital Photography
Christmas Sunset on Clinton Street just north of Wallen Road
Night view of the city from the 26th floor of the National City building.
Sunday, December 23, 2007
A Friendly Review - The Friendly Fox Cafe
The Friendly Fox is the yum, with a side of some minor annoyances.
The relatively new eatery on South Wayne is a true gem. I went Saturday for a late lunch after doing some holiday shopping. I had the turkey wrap and a coffee. It was the most refreshing meal I'd had in weeks.
The food tasted unbelievable, and while the brewed coffee doesn't quite measure up to my high "firefly or die" standards, it's still quite good.
At South Wayne Avenue and West Foster Parkway, it's only a few blocks from my house. It will be nice to take a quick ride down there on my bike when the weather permits. The cafe is located in an historic edifice with a nice angle-cut front door that evokes days gone by.
The warm wood furnishings and carpet make one feel at home, and there are sofas and tables, with the unique chance to sit on sofa-like cushions in the window sill. Unfortunately, the window faces north and it was overcast, but just imagining basking in the sun on a brighter day gave me something to look forward to.
There was a gentleman taking advantage of free wi-fi and there was a TV graciously stowed above the door and out of everyones way. The unfortunate part was the basketball game on the screen was much too loud for a quiet Saturday afternoon.
In an adjacent room, a half dozen or so armchairs waited patiently for patrons craving the quiet. The location would make an ideal spot for pondering the workings of the universe with a group of philosophers or catching up on the Harry Potter novels.
The staff was helpful but a little slow for people who work in a coffee shop, but it may have been the fact it was late in the day. Another drawback is a single unisex restroom, though it was large enough to divide later, if the extra facility is demanded.
In what has become a very competitive premium coffee society, the Friendly Fox has come armed with tons of tchotchkies for loyal customers to purchase as souvenirs. If you want to flaunt your coffee independence by wearing a Friendly Fox sweatshirt into Starbucks, you may want to bring some extra cash, as they are a little on the pricey side.
Overall, the Friendly Fox's respectable brews and resplendent foods make it absolutely worth a visit. Four out of five stars.
Address:
4001 South Wayne Ave., Fort Wayne, Indiana
For more, visit Cindy Larson's article at The News-Sentinel.
Thursday, December 20, 2007
IU Alumni Filmmaker
Read my latest story on Indiana University alum Jessica Petelle-Slagle on the News-Sentinel's site.
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