Classic FM has signed Eímear Noone, one of the world’s leading composers of games scores, as the new host of its popular video game music series, High Score.
Eímear Noone joins Classic FM’s star line-up from Saturday June 22nd to present a new six-week run of the programme, which is now in its fourth series and was the first on UK radio dedicated to video game music.
Each hour-long programme will focus on a different theme, starting with Game Changers, as Noone reveals the characters, distant realms and unforgettable stories that have gained legendary status and changed the gaming world forever. Future themes will focus on Girl Power, celebrating the smart, powerful and brave female protagonists at the helm of gaming; Villains, looking at the most iconic lawbreakers in video games; and Magic, Myths and Legends, exploring the games inspired by ancient legends, mythical beasts and familiar fairy tales.
The new series comes as Classic FM celebrates a growing younger audience, with more than one million 15-34-year-olds tuning in every week. This has been attributed to the popularity and variety of the station’s programmes, including High Score; its social media channels; and the Classic FM app, where two-thirds of its 2.6 million unique monthly users are aged under 35.
Described by the Irish Independent as “the Irish Queen of Games Music”, Eímear Noone is one of the industry’s premier composers and conductors. Her music has reached more than 100 million people through her award-winning scores for World of Warcraft and Warlords of Draenor. Over the past nine years, Noone has recorded most of the scores for Blizzard Games, including Overwatch, Hearthstone, Heroes of the Storm and Starcraft II, as well as recording for Nintendo and Sony Interactive. Her role as primary conductor for Video Games Live – the longest-running orchestral touring show – has taken her all over the world, including a show at Beijing’s 80,000-capacity Olympic Stadium.
Eímear Noone’s conducting work has also included Stravinsky’s The Firebird, Dvořák’s Symphony No.9 (‘From the New World’) and the Los Angeles Ballet’s inaugural production of Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker. Alongside her success in the gaming industry, she has written extensively for film, having worked on scores for the thrillers Mirrors and The Hole, as well as with directors such as Gus Van Sant and Joe Dante. In addition, Noone is principal conductor for the worldwide tour of Callas in Concert, which brings the opera legend Maria Callas back to the stage via a state-of-the-art hologram, with accompaniment by a full symphony orchestra.
Noone takes over as host of Classic FM’s High Score from fellow composer Jessica Curry, who presented the first three series.
“Video game music is the perfect gateway to the classics for a younger audience, especially since the sonority of the orchestra is already in their hearts and minds. It’s also fun to let existing classical music fans in on the zeitgeist of this new form of orchestral pop art, even if they’ve never played a video game in their lives. Classic FM is the perfect home for both audiences.”
Composer and Classic FM presenter Eímear Noone
Sam Jackson, Classic FM’s managing editor said: “Classic FM has been playing and championing video game music for the past seven years, so it is a real coup for us to sign Eímear Noone as the new host of High Score. Eimear shares our vision to make classical music relevant and accessible to as many people as possible. Through her enthusiasm and worldwide popularity, we look forward to welcoming more fans of video game music to Classic FM, while continuing to showcase this exciting genre to our 5.3 million listeners around the UK.”
High Score with Eímear Noone starts on Saturday June 22nd at 9pm on Classic FM – available across the UK on 100-102 FM, DAB digital radio and TV, at ClassicFM.com, on the Classic FM app and the Global Player.
