Game Music Ensemble at UCLA

Who We Are

The Game Music Ensemble (GME) is a UCLA group consisting of orchestra, choir, jazz and chamber ensembles dedicated to performing and celebrating original video game music. In the past, the ensemble has performed pieces from Kingdom Hearts, Final Fantasy, League of Legends, World of Warcraft, Skyrim, Legend of Zelda, Undertale and more, with guest conductors like Neal Acree and Gerard Marino.

Founded in 2014 by Jose Daniel Ruiz, GME concerts are modeled after other live acts such as Video Games Live, Distant Worlds, while its organizational model enables its members to integrate their academic studies with the performance, social, and leadership opportunities GME provides. 

GME has a full orchestra and choir performance twice a year—one in winter and one in spring—with jazz and chamber performances spread throughout, at various campus locations, but primarily at Ackerman Grand Ballroom and smaller venues such as the UCLA Art Council Amphitheater.

Our goal is to bring iconic and contemporary game soundtracks into a formal concert setting, highlighting video game music as a meaningful medium of personal and artistic expression. Through live performances, we aim to connect students, faculty, and community members with the creativity and cultural impact of game music.

Why We Need Support

Producing free high-quality concerts requires significant resources, including rehearsal space, sheet music, equipment, instrument rental, and other venue-related costs. As our ensemble continues to expand, so does the demand for performance opportunities that will allow us to share our work with wider audiences. Fundraising is essential to sustaining GME's general operations and will allow for future concerts to reach new audiences in venues such as Schoenberg Hall, Royce Hall, and other campus spaces.

How Your Support Will Make an Impact

Donations directly support operational and performance needs of GME, helping us cover costs related to venue usage, music preparation, equipment, catering, marketing, and event staffing. 

Your support will help us create higher quality, more meaningful concerts, elevating the experience of both our student musicians and the broader audience and allowing us to share the music we love with the UCLA community and beyond. We would be very grateful for your help!

CLICK HERE TO READ THE UCLA FOUNDATION'S DISCLOSURE STATEMENTS FOR DONORS

Should this fund reach the campus minimum required for the establishment of an endowment or quasi-endowment, The UCLA Foundation reserves the right to convert this fund to an endowment or quasi-endowment. Please click here to learn more about how the UCLA Foundation invests and manages its endowments.