The Monroe Community Band in the Wagner Auditorium perform its June 22, 2024 concert of Sea Shanties.
Photo courtesy Michael Whitney
MONROE — The Monroe Community Band is set to present music from video games for its free summer concert, titled Pixelated Melodies, the evening of Saturday, June 21.
This family-friendly event will showcase the soundtracks of popular video games, including The Legend of Zelda, Civilization IV and Skyrim. The concert aims to celebrate the emotional depth and artistry of music in gaming while appealing to audiences of all ages.
Band member Mark Ainsworth and his daughter attended a video game music concert in Seattle. “They enjoyed it so much, they wanted to bring that excitement to our own community,” Trinity Mann-Beam, the band’s marketing coordinator, said.
Adapting video game music for a live band poses unique challenges. The band relies on commercially available arrangements written specifically for concert bands, which must capture the spirit of the original scores while accommodating the live format.
“We want our audience to recognize the power of music in everyday life and leave with a greater appreciation for how it enhances the world around them,” a representative from the band said. The Monroe Community Band hopes the concert resonates with a broad audience, particularly gamers and families. “The music we’ve chosen is fun, familiar, and appealing across generations.”
The creative process behind the theme title reflected the band’s collaborative spirit, with members Rhonda Pallo and Mann-Beam contributing their ideas to land on the name Pixelated Melodies.
“All our concerts are free to attend, ensuring that anyone in Monroe or the surrounding areas can enjoy and be inspired by live musical performances,” Mann-Beam said.
As a nonprofit organization, the Monroe Community Band is dedicated to fostering artistic appreciation and community involvement.
“For this event, we formed a special committee of band members—each with unique interests in video games—to help select the repertoire,” Mann-Beam, the band’s marketing coordinator, said. Creating a setlist was a meticulous process led by MCB’s director, David Pallo. The group reviewed many arrangements of video game music before finalizing the set of pieces in December 2024.
Then, it was practice, practice, practice for the approximately 50 band members, who are all volunteers.
“The band is truly a team effort,” Mann-Beam said. “Every member plays an essential role in shaping the overall sound. From planning to performing, collaboration is key.”
The video game concert will be Saturday, June 21 at 7 p.m. in the Wagner Performing Arts Center, 639 W. Main St.
Following Pixelated Melodies, their annual Christmas concert will return in December, followed by a spring performance themed around American music. In summer 2026, they plan to introduce June-a-ween, a Halloween-themed concert held in June.
For more information about the Monroe Community Band and upcoming events, find the Monroe Community Band on Facebook or see www.monroecommunityband.org
