---
title: "Music With Motion: Down Under"
role: Conductor / Artistic Director
type: Concert
date: 2025-11-15
slug: music-with-motion-down-under
keyFigure:
  - title: Performed by
    name: Woodville Concert Band
    href: https://www.woodvillecb.com.au/2025/music-with-motion-down-under/
description: "Music With Motion: Down Under is the largest ever celebration of Australia's video game soundtracks, performed live by a full wind orchestra and synchronised in real time with stunning visuals on the big screen. Premiering all-new orchestrations created especially for this event by award-winning Artistic Director Dr Nathan Cummins, the performance showcases music from games developed across the country, including several from right here in South Australia. Many of these games have never had their music performed live, and you'll be among the very first to hear it."
frontPage: { "order": 3 }
images:
  {
    "hero":
      {
        "src": "nathan-cummins-music-with-motion-down-under-1.jpg",
        "alt": "Nathan on the conductor's podium acknowledging a guest soloist with applause."
      },
    "other": "music-with-motion-down-under"
  }
externalLinks:
  [
    {
      "name": "Website",
      "href": "https://www.woodvillecb.com.au/2025/music-with-motion-down-under/",
      "icon": "mdi:web"
    }
  ]
---

_Music With Motion_ and the [Woodville Concert Band](https://www.woodvillecb.com.au) have been part of my life for so long now that trying to sum up what the eighth iteration of the concert meant to me feels almost impossible.
Each year the concert grows and changes, but at its core it still has the same mission: to celebrate video games and their music, and to bring both art forms to audiences who might not yet realise how imaginative, bold, and moving they can be.

With _Music With Motion: Down Under_, that mission felt especially personal.
This year I wanted to shine a light on the remarkable talent in Australia's development community, particularly here in South Australia.
Our local scene is full of people and studios creating fun and ambitious projects, often with tiny teams but always with limitless creativity.
My hope was that this concert would help give these composers and these studios the attention they deserve.

Inevitably because of this vision, this year's concert again grew in scale and ambition, becoming the largest _Music With Motion_ event yet.
It was, to my knowledge, the largest live video game music concert ever held in Australia that focused exclusively on Australian games.
The concert showcased a talented ensemble that grew to 54 musicians and also featured live choir, guest soloists, all with real-time audio-visual synchronisation created just for this event (special thanks to Daytime Devs for the opening sequence!).

![Some of the Woodville Concert Band and Woodville High School Senior Choir on stage](/src/assets/img/projects/music-with-motion-down-under/nathan-cummins-music-with-motion-down-under-4.jpg)

Across 12 projects from 11 studios, we presented 19 pieces, 17 of them world premieres.
All projects featured were developed right here in Australia, with 8 of them being from South Australia.
With the exception of _Goldstained_ by Tommy Raets, who arranged his own work, I worked closely with the composers and developers to ensure that my orchestrations translated their visions truthfully to wind orchestra.
Many of these composers had never heard their work performed by a large ensemble before, which made the process even more meaningful.

The programme included:

- _**Main Title / Haunting Horrors**_ from _Super BAWK BAWK Chicken_ by Daytime Devs - [Chris Norton](https://www.therealchrisnorton.com/) (SA)
- _**The Sacred Acorn**_ from _The Sacred Acorn_ by A Few Dragons - William D H Parry (SA)
- _**Main Theme**_ from _Demonlore_ by Barrel Smash Studios - [Hew Wagner](https://www.hewwagner.com/) (VIC)
- _**Seeds of the Future**_ from _Project Regolith_ by Regolith Interactive - [Simon Stemberger](https://www.stembergercompositions.com/) (VIC)
- _**White Palace**_ from _Hollow Knight_ by Team Cherry - [Christopher Larkin](https://composerlarkin.com/) (SA)
- _**Hydra**_ from _Roc's Odyssey_ by Sunshine Festival Studios - my own score (SA)
- _**Main Theme**_ from _TOYA_ by The RnD Department - [Chris Norton](https://www.therealchrisnorton.com/) (SA)
- _**Threads of a Dream**_ demonstrating FMOD by Firelight Technologies - [Aaron C. Edwards](https://aaroncedwards.audio/) (VIC)
- _**Alluvion**_ from _Submerged: Hidden Depths_ by Uppercut Games - [Jeff van Dyck](https://jeffvandyck.com/) (QLD)
- _**Goldstained**_ from _Goldstained_ by Lantern Jump - Tommy Raets (SA)
- _**Enter Pharloom / Trobbio Medley**_ from _Hollow Knight: Silksong_ by Team Cherry - [Christopher Larkin](https://composerlarkin.com/) (SA)
- _**Dungeons and Dining Tables Medley**_ from _Dungeons and Dining Tables_ by Catalyst Games - my own score (SA)

The night also featured brilliant guest performers.
Joshua Julian and Maverick Pov of [Akira Slide](https://linktr.ee/akiraslide) joined us on electric guitar for my piece _Hydra_ from _Roc's Odyssey_.
Ed Kriek graciously agreed to perform _Trobbio_ from _Hollow Knight: Silksong_.
Their musicianship elevated the night in ways I'm incredibly grateful for.
It was also a pleasure to collaborate with the Woodville High School Senior Choir, who joined us for a few pieces and added a depth to the sound world of the night that we'd never had before.

<div class="grid grid-cols-1 gap-4 md:grid-cols-2">
  <div>
    ![Guest electric guitarist Joshua Julian performing "Hydra" from "Roc's
    Odyssey"](/src/assets/img/projects/music-with-motion-down-under/nathan-cummins-music-with-motion-down-under-10.jpg)
  </div>
  <div>
    ![Guest electric guitarist Maverick Pov performing "Hydra" from "Roc's
    Odyssey"](/src/assets/img/projects/music-with-motion-down-under/nathan-cummins-music-with-motion-down-under-8.jpg)
  </div>
</div>

Beyond the music on stage, it was important to me that the wider community was part of the celebration and that other local developers, not just those featured in the concert, had a chance to showcase their work.
During the hour before the concert and throughout the interval, we ran a small convention-style showcase featuring:

- Catalyst Games
- South Australian Games Association (SAGA)
- Paper Cactus Games
- Royal Reign Studios
- The RnD Department
- StarSword Games
- Wayward Skies Studio
- Bad Plan Studios
- Academy of Interactive Entertainment (AIE)
- Avery Andruwskiewicz (artist)

Most of these teams are up-and-coming developers, many of them young, and it was wonderful seeing audiences play their games, chat with them, and discover what's happening right here in Adelaide.

<div class="grid grid-cols-1 gap-4 md:grid-cols-3">
  <div>
    ![Attendees playing games at the showcase prior to the
    concert](/src/assets/img/projects/music-with-motion-down-under/nathan-cummins-music-with-motion-down-under-13.jpg)
  </div>
  <div>
    ![A child playing "End of Ember" by Bad Plan
    Studios](/src/assets/img/projects/music-with-motion-down-under/nathan-cummins-music-with-motion-down-under-12.jpg)
  </div>
  <div>
    ![Haydn Richards-Pudney managing our merch
    stand](/src/assets/img/projects/music-with-motion-down-under/nathan-cummins-music-with-motion-down-under-14.jpg)
  </div>
</div>

The concert sold out.
Over 600 people filled the Woodville Town Hall.
Seeing that many people choose to spend their evening celebrating local games and music was incredibly heartwarming.
More than the numbers, it felt like a community gathering to support the creators behind these works as well and the vision that the Woodville Concert Band and I have been developing for so long.

I'm enormously proud of the Woodville Concert Band.
Performing a full programme of premieres—much of it intricate and stylistically diverse—was a monumental task that took many months of intense preparation and rehearsal.
It has been incredible to observe their growth over the year and the community that has been fostered there.
Their committee and volunteers worked tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure everything ran smoothly, from managing the doors, to managing publicity, the transportation of equipment, the setup and control of the audiovisual equipment, and keeping me sane, fed, and watered on the day.

![Me applauding special guest pianist Ed Kriek, who premiered "Trobbio" from "Hollow Knight: Silksong" composed by Christopher Larkin](/src/assets/img/project-heros/nathan-cummins-music-with-motion-down-under-1.jpg)

There is a long list of people I want to thank, too many to list here, from our own volunteers, those close to us, and our supporters and sponsors.
My gratitude to both Chris Norton and Christopher Larkin, who both individually stepped in to provide invaluable support via other preparations such as the inclusion of additional sounds, instruments, and last minute audio recording, is immeasurable.
Thank you to [Tommy Woods Photography](https://www.tommywoodsphotography.com/) for the fantastic photos from the night, some of which you can see here.
A special thank you goes to Catalyst Games for sponsoring the event via the creation and printing of Hannah Ewart's brilliantly hand-drawn key art, featured prominently in the poster and other marketing materials, and her design of the stunning event programme.
[Gelista Gelati](https://www.gelista.com.au/) generously donated free ice-cream for the entire audience and helped make the evening feel truly festive.
It was also a pleasure to work with and have the support of the [South Australian Games Association (SAGA)](https://sagames.org/) as well as our other sponsors.
While not a sponsor, the West Torrens Library Service also deserves special mention for their support in promoting the event, helping connect us with the local community, and for their work supporting the local industry.
Most importantly I'd like to thank my partner Camille, whose unwavering support and patience kept me going through the long months of preparation, and whose contributions to the event logistics were invaluable.

<div class="m-auto max-w-xl">
  ![The poster by Hannah Ewart featuring characters from various South
  Australian video games including "Hollow Knight", "Hollow Knight: Silksong",
  "Dungeons and Dining Tables", and "Super BAWK BAWK
  Chicken"](/src/assets/img/other/nathan-cummins-music-with-motion-down-under-poster-1.png)
</div>

On a personal note, it took hundreds of hours to bring _Music With Motion: Down Under_ to life.
This concert was my way of supporting, uplifting, and giving back to the community that has shaped so much of my own creative path.
Seeing these works come alive with orchestra, and seeing the pride and joy on the faces of the composers, developers, the performers, and even the audience, made every moment worth it.

Thank you to everyone who attended, performed, collaborated, showcased, or was otherwise involved in some way.
I'm deeply grateful.

![Most of the full ensemble including special guests accepting the final applause](/src/assets/img/projects/music-with-motion-down-under/nathan-cummins-music-with-motion-down-under-23.jpg)
![A view from behind the stage of the full venue](/src/assets/img/projects/music-with-motion-down-under/nathan-cummins-music-with-motion-down-under-17.jpg)
![An audience member dressed as Hornet from "Hollow Knight: Silksong"](/src/assets/img/projects/music-with-motion-down-under/nathan-cummins-music-with-motion-down-under-19.jpg)
