Adelaide Symphony Orchestra virtual reality project allows elderly persons to experience a concert from home

SITTING in the middle of the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra during a concert at Town Hall was practically unheard of — until now.

MUSIC TO EARS: ASO double bass player Harley Gray with project volunteer Jan O'Donnell, project co-ordinator Alison Campbell and violinist Shirin Lim, wearing a Jaimie Sortino gown. Shirin’s make-up was by Mandy Nash for Hair and Make-Up. Picture: TAIT SCHMAAL

SITTING in the middle of the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra during a concert at Town Hall was practically unheard of — until now.

An innovative digital project spearheaded by the ASO is making this rare opportunity possible for older music lovers across the state, and they don’t even need to leave home. The virtual reality project, Encore in VR, is being piloted across 14 community centres in metropolitan and regional SA.

It allows participants wearing earphones and a headset to see and hear footage captured by Adelaide-based Jumpgate Virtual Reality during ASO’s Classics Unwrapped concert in 2015. Project co-ordinator Alison Campbell said the project, using funding from a positive ageing grant from the Office for the Ageing, targeted older people who may be unable to attend a live concert.

“A very common thing we hear is people do not go to ASO concerts because they don’t like going out at night, they may no longer be able to drive, they might not have a friend to go with,” she said.

“One of the things we do is we play the music and then we go and have a chat over tea and coffee, just like people do after they’ve been to a concert. It is that whole experience .”

Ms Campbell said the virtual reality concert provided participants with a “unique perspective”. “They can swivel their chair and can look at all the different orchestra members playing,” she said.

“Guy Noble is conducting and you feel like he is about to poke your eye out with his baton.”

Adelaide Symphony Orchestra managing director Vincent Cicarello said the technology had “enormous potential” beyond concert performances, such as in music education.

“Students right across Australia (could) experience all aspects of a concert through the headsets, while at the same time being directed to pay attention to particular features such as individual instruments or themes,” he said.

For more information about Encore in VR, email [e-mail]