The Transcendent Key 12,109 Posted July 20, 2018 Hey there everyone, how's it going!? Well then, tomorrow marks one week since I attended the Kingdom Hearts Orchestra World Tour Concert that took place in Chicago, Illinois on July 13th! This was something that I had never expected I'd get the chance to attend! Last year I had dreamed and longed to be able to come and see the beautiful music of the series be played for not just me, but many other Kingdom Hearts fans, all together, united, enjoying the art of music together! But when this year came along and I would come to move to the US, I finally got my chance to get tickets for the concert! And so, I bought two tickets, one for myself and one for my niece who is also into Kingdom Hearts, and she's planning to play through the games before playing Kingdom Hearts III! In short, it was just an unforgettable experience! The minute we arrived at the Auditorium Theater, all we could see was the ginormous line forming for the concert just outside! People with KH graphic tees all bumbling with excitement, cosplayers coming in full swing with formal wear or just their attire from the games, people from different walks of life, all converging, our paths leading us to this wonderful performance, which would last two hours and ten minutes! My niece and I formed conversation with one of the people in line, a young woman who had just gotten out of work to attend the concert! And so, as the line began to move, we made our way into the theater, and inside, the lobby was jam packed, fans happily taking photos with the cosplayers and just talking about the games in general! The story, the music, what could happen in Kingdom Hearts III, you name it! It was all amazing, and the lines for buying merchandise were long! I managed to get an official graphic tee of the concert, and I got one for my niece as well! And while we were on the merch line, I stumbled upon a fan who had bought Sora's conductor Keyblade, along with the concert's program! She showed me a Wayfinder she wore around her neck, and as we kept talking, I mentioned that I would always log into KH13 for the latest Kingdom Hearts news! And as it turns out, she was a member too, and she turned out to be none other than Mykaila Shakespeare! I fanboyed hard, because I had just met someone from the site! It was a wonderful meeting, and we began to talk to each other about our excitement for the concert and for the series in general, and we talked over different topics as well, and she told me her story about when she met Peter Cullen and Frank Welker, and she showed me her art! She's an amazing artist! So we stuck together and kept talking! When the time was coming nearer for the concert, we parted ways and wished each other well, and then I went with my niece to take our seats! We were all jumpy in our seats, looking towards the orchestra members who were tuning up their instruments! And then...when the lights turned off and the limelight took central stage towards the orchestra...that's when we knew that a magical journey was to begin! The orchestra was welcomed with roaring and loving applause, and when the concert began, we were treated to the beloved introductory piece, Hikari! And good lord, how I got goosebumps! For the sake of not spoiling, I won't mention anything else...but good God, I felt such a wave of nostalgia and feelings and goosebumps wash over me the entire time we were there in the concert! I truly felt immersed in the music, and the orchestra did the music of the series justice! Each piece was masterfully and beautifully executed, and at the conclusion of each performance, the crowd cheered and applauded! And by the time the concert ended with Fantasia Alla Marcia for Piano, Chorus and Orchestra, the entire theater had burst into applause and a total of four standing ovations! The orchestra hyped us up even more, and it was just a magical experience in which all of us KH fans were united together, forgetting about the troubles and despairs of everyday life to just enjoy two hours of amazing music! After the concert ended, and while we waited for our train home, we stumbled upon three people who had also just come from the concert! We became fast friends and talked the entire train trip back home! Not only did we enjoy the concert, but it helped us connect with new people! A testament to the way these games bring people together! But yes, this was my experience, and for anyone who can be able to get the chance to attend the Kingdom Hearts Orchestra World Tour Concert, I implore of you to do so! You will not regret it! It is very much worth your time and money, plus all the new friends you'll make! May your hearts be your guiding key! Also, here are photos I took of the event! https://imgur.com/a/Ej9gqiO 17 Mykaila Shakespeare, OrlandoE, Galenvaf and 14 others reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Leamax 746 Posted July 20, 2018 I'm glad that both of you have a brilliant time. I wish I would have found you guys in all the chaos at Auditorium Theater. The line was long, stretching down the other side of the block, and I only handed out stickers to the front side. It was just so overwhelming of how many KH fans there were. An amazing story out of this was there was a KH3 Sora cosplayer and a Master Xehanort cosplayer that didn't have tickets for the event and were there just to hang out with people, but in a amazing twist of fate, somebody had two extra tickets so they gave both of them the tickets. The MX cosplayer ended up sitting right next to me while the Sora cosplayer sat a row behind. It was awesome. Also, the conductor was so cheeky, he was trying to pump up the crowd whenever he got the chance. The night was truly amazing. 1 The Transcendent Key reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dustin Lübbers 933 Posted July 20, 2018 "sigh" maybe someday 1 The Transcendent Key reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Transcendent Key 12,109 Posted July 21, 2018 I'm glad that both of you have a brilliant time. I wish I would have found you guys in all the chaos at Auditorium Theater. The line was long, stretching down the other side of the block, and I only handed out stickers to the front side. It was just so overwhelming of how many KH fans there were. An amazing story out of this was there was a KH3 Sora cosplayer and a Master Xehanort cosplayer that didn't have tickets for the event and were there just to hang out with people, but in a amazing twist of fate, somebody had two extra tickets so they gave both of them the tickets. The MX cosplayer ended up sitting right next to me while the Sora cosplayer sat a row behind. It was awesome. Also, the conductor was so cheeky, he was trying to pump up the crowd whenever he got the chance. The night was truly amazing. Thanks! Ooh, and I heard that too! Mykaila had told me that a Sora cosplayer had gotten a free ticket, but I didn't know about the Master Xehanort one! That's just awesome, that must've been quite the awesome experience for them, to be able to have concert tickets given to them like that! That is luck of the greatest sort right there! Lol, and yeah, I tried finding you guys during all the mess, but I wasn't able to! Haha, and yes, the conductor really hyped things up! "sigh" maybe someday I'm sure you will, and when you do have the chance, don't miss it for anything in the world! 1 Mykaila Shakespeare reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mykaila Shakespeare 249 Posted July 22, 2018 So glad I got to meet you guys! Definitely an experience worth remembering! Hopefully I'll properly catch a KH13 meetup next time as well. Still had a wonderful night! 1 The Transcendent Key reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
The Transcendent Key 12,109 Posted July 26, 2018 So glad I got to meet you guys! Definitely an experience worth remembering! Hopefully I'll properly catch a KH13 meetup next time as well. Still had a wonderful night! Agreed, the experience was a wonderful and unforgettable one, and I can't wait to get another chance to interact with more KH fans! And I can't wait to meet up with you again, Mykaila! 1 Mykaila Shakespeare reacted to this Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites