In May, Canada’s Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony held a 36-hour “Orchestra Hackathon,” inviting members of the public to propose ways to enhance the concert experience using technology. The hackathon was open to students as well as seasoned software and hardware developers, who worked with Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony musicians, Music Director Edwin Outwater (via videoconference), guest conductor Carols Izcaray, Assistant Conductor Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser, and others to complete their proposals. A panel of judges awarded prizes to three winners, whose ideas will be demonstrated at the orchestra’s September 25 and 26 Beethoven concerts. First prize was awarded to a project translating musical performance into fractal representations, adding a visual complement to the music. Second place went to “How Do I Symphony?” which asks potential concertgoers questions to align their personal tastes with upcoming Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony performances, and then makes recommendations. Third prize was awarded to an interactive game that uses the rhythm of a piece from an orchestra program. The Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony will demonstrate the winning solutions at the Beethoven concerts in September 2015.
Posted June 15, 2015
