ORLANDO, Fla. – One of the longest-running anime/manga series will be brought to life by Central Florida’s own Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra this weekend at the Dr. Phillips Center.
While ONE PIECE Music Symphony is a national touring show, the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra was selected to perform acclaimed composer Kohei Tanaka’s score.
Saturday evening’s event is part of the Dr. Phillips Center’s “Films in Concert” series.
Joe Henderson, assistant principal violist with the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra, prepares for performances by listening to the pieces with and without a score.
Being part of the orchestra has been a dream for Henderson, who said performing at the Dr. Phillips Center “feels amazing.”
Joe Henderson with Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra (RINAT_HALON_PHOTOGRAPHY_COMMUNICATION)
“Since high school, I always wanted to be part of a professional orchestra, and now that I’m here, the people have all been so kind and welcoming, and I’m learning more repertoire than I even thought was possible,” said Henderson, who is from Jacksonville.
“ONE PIECE” is a Japanese manga series with 97 volumes and over 930 TV episodes, making it one of the most successful anime series ever. The series follows the adventures of Monkey D. Luffy, who is searching for the legendary “One Piece” to become the next King of Pirates.
“I hope that people leave this ‘ONE PIECE’ show with a deeper appreciation for anime as an art form and a greater love for orchestral music and all of its capabilities,” Henderson said.
Julien Mombert, producer of the ONE PIECE Music Symphony show, has been producing the show since 2013. He specializes in official video game and Japanese anime symphonic concerts.
“It’s been amazing to see how much excitement and interest there’s been recently here in the U.S. I actually happen to also be an amateur drummer, but I focus on producing and leave the performing to the incredible orchestras we work with,” Mombert said.
Mombert said he has been a fan of the anime series long before the symphonic show, calling it a “real dream come true” to be able to produce it.
“After so many long days of preparation and travel, the energy backstage can be a bit low before the doors open — but once we see fans smiling and so excited for the concert, it’s the best energy boost you can imagine,” he said. “Watching them react to the music and the moments we’ve carefully built into the program is truly the highlight for me.”
Don’t miss ONE PIECE Music Symphony this Saturday at 7 p.m. at the Dr. Phillips Center. Click here to purchase tickets.
“ONE PIECE is such an unforgettable story, and experiencing Luffy’s and his crew’s adventures live on screen — with a full professional orchestra performing the music — is something truly unique. I hope people walk away feeling inspired, nostalgic and connected to the world of ONE PIECE in a brand-new way,” Mombert said.
To see other performances by the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra at the Dr. Phillips Center, click here.
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