Following the December 2021 release of Seven Lions’ Opus, with its notable string quartet accompaniment, Ophelia Records has released another strings-heavy EDM track—an orchestral conversion of Wooli‘s single, ‘Crazy,’ featuring Casey Cook. The track was released on January 14 and was co-orchestrated by UCLA composition students Kian Ravaei and Robby Good. The duo assembled a 48-piece orchestra comprised of performers from across Los Angeles, including more than two-dozen UCLA students and alumni.
“This release has been a long time coming,” said Kian. “For a lot of us, this was the first official gig any of us had in over a year, so to see it finally come to light is just exciting for me and everyone involved.”
“Robby and I took orchestration class together at UCLA,” said Kian. “We learned the craft of orchestration by analyzing scores and making piano reductions of orchestral works under the mentorship of first-rate professors: Dwayne Milburn, Kay Rhie, and Richard Danielpour.”
“This opportunity came to us through a UCLA alumnus mentor,” said Kian. “We spent the next few weeks meticulously editing orchestral parts and corresponding with over 200 potential orchestral musicians.”
“I don’t think I’ve ever felt more satisfied in seeing something come together than this,” said Robby Good, a 4th year undergraduate composition and percussion student, who conducted the orchestra alongside Kian for the recording at EastWest Studios in Los Angeles. “Leading the group was such an amazing experience and having Kian backing me through the whole experience was such a big help.”
“There’s something uniquely magical about orchestral music,” said Kian. “The beauty that occurs when forty-eight individuals play in harmony with one another defies explanation. It was incredible to see the awestruck look on Wooli and Casey Cook’s faces when the orchestra started playing their song.”
Kian and Robby are both recipients of numerous scholarships and awards. This year, Ravaei received the James Horner Composition Scholarship and the Elaine Krown Klein Fine Arts Scholarship. Robby is a Jerry Goldsmith Scholar and A. Atwater Kent Fellow. Both Kian and Robby are also supported by the Henry Mancini Award and the Stanley Wilson Memorial Scholarship in Composition and Brass.
Join us in congratulating all of the students and alumni involved in this new release.
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UCLA Student and Alumni Performers:
Neil Cole, oboe; Luke Candias, clarinet; Kristine Llanderal, bass clarinet; Taylor Lee, bassoon; Iona Pay, horn; Duncan Smith, horn; Jessica Lipman, trumpet; Austin Ali, trumpet; Charles Brunson, trombone; Ethan Holmes, trombone; Hannah Stefureak, tuba; Jonathan Schlitt, timpani; Cash Langi, bass drum; Maggie Pan, piano; Christina Perez, harp; Alec Norkey, violin; Arielle Claire Kasyanova, violin; Xenia Deviatkina-Loh, violin; Isabella Mija Reyes, violin; Lorenna Garcia, viola; Leo Santi, viola; Chris Cho, cello; Haley Hedegard, cello; Emma Yim, cello; Masiel Medina, cello.
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