Philharmonia Orchestra Launches VR Experience Letting Public 'Perform' Percussion With Musicians

The Philharmonia Orchestra has introduced a virtual reality experience called Virtual Orchestra, which allows members of the public to take on a percussion role during a performance of Rossini's William Tell Overture, according to a report by The Guardian.

The experience, described in an account by a Guardian writer, uses a VR headset to place participants among the orchestra's musicians at London's Royal Festival Hall, seemingly without requiring any prior rehearsal or musical experience.

According to the report, participants can choose between three percussion instruments — triangle, cymbal or timpani — before being guided through a brief introduction to the sounds each instrument produces. Philharmonia percussionist Tom Edwards reportedly provided instruction on the instruments as part of the experience.

Marta Génova, the Philharmonia's head of digital product and experience, is quoted in the report describing the project and checking on the writer's headset fit during the simulated performance.

The writer described being placed into a virtual rehearsal followed immediately by a simulated live performance, with a musical score appearing across the bottom of the visual field as conductor Santtu-Matias Rouvali led the virtual orchestra through the piece's finale.

Génova is quoted as saying the timpani option is "definitely the most fun" among the three instrument choices offered to participants.

The Guardian's account depicts the writer's experience as a mix of nervousness and immersion, noting the sensation of being surrounded by the brass, string and woodwind sections during the simulated performance in a packed concert hall setting.

Further details on availability, pricing or public access to the Virtual Orchestra experience were not specified in the excerpt reviewed.