Pictured – Grand Feature Film Orchestra student and professional members at a logistics session for Sherlock Junior

The Grand Feature Film Orchestra is a professional ensemble, but with the help of grants and personal donations, the GFFO presents special youth and community programs for aspiring artists.

Serious student musicians are welcomed to the GFFO to work beside professionals in order to learn the art and study the history of film music and sound effects from its early roots. Twenty-four two-hour educational sessions are necessary before the full orchestra rehearses together. At that point, it's a run-through to shake out any technical and logistical problems and then on to the performance!

One can't just go to the movie music store and buy music for these LIVE film concerts. They must be painstakingly procured, arranged, composed, restored – whatever's necessary to bring back the wonder originally intended for the movie-going audience. Sound effects must be realized and brought back using practical and digital means to enhance the story. Researching availability and licensing is key to putting the program together. 

Student members of the program attend educational sessions, engineering logistics meetings, and rehearsals not only to play the music well but also to synchronize it perfectly with the action on the screen. This includes on-the-spot improvisation, composition, and special orchestration. 

ABOUT THE GFFO

The Grand Feature Film Orchestra is a professional cinema orchestra with a resident composer, arranger, conductor, producer, mechanical engineer, business administrator, accountant, safety coordinator, and professional musicians, as well as a host of others who make GFFO movie magic possible! 

The result of this labor of love can be seen at our upcoming movie concerts, such as the world premiere show: Sherlock Junior on November 19th!