Casey Philharmonic Orchestra performing the Bones: Wandering Soul suite at Bunjil Place
Bones: Wandering Soul Takes to the Stage at Level Up!
A very special evening of orchestral music, storytelling and a little bit of Bones magic!
On Saturday, 10 October, Bones: Wandering Soul had the incredible opportunity to feature in Level Up! A Game Music Orchestral Concert at Bunjil Place in Melbourne, as part of Melbourne International Games Week 2026. Presented by the Casey Philharmonic Orchestra, the evening celebrated the wonderful world of video game music, featuring works from beloved Australian titles including Hollow Knight and Copycat, alongside original compositions from our very own Bones: Wandering Soul and some of gaming's most iconic soundtracks to life, including music from The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, Final Fantasy, The Legend of Zelda, and Kingdom Hearts.
For our little independent studio, it was quite a surreal moment!
While Bones is still very much under construction, having the opportunity to hear music from our game performed by a live orchestra, long before the game itself is finished, was something incredibly special. Our wonderful composer, Kent Ross, took to the podium as conductor for the evening, guiding the orchestra through a fantastic programme of game music. Kent has been working behind the scenes to develop the musical identity of Bones: Wandering Soul, creating a score that captures the game's quirky charm, emotional storytelling and the many adventures awaiting our little skeleton. Much of this work is something our community hasn't had the opportunity to hear just yet, so being able to share a small glimpse of what Kent has been creating was a particularly exciting milestone.
We were also delighted to have the wonderful Matt Dwyer as our MC for the evening! With years of experience across live performance, audio and television presenting, including his work on Summerfall Studios' Malys, Matt brought his warmth, wit and enthusiasm to the stage, helping guide audiences through a fantastic evening of video game music.
The audience was also treated to footage from our early alpha prototype and cinematics, offering a little peek into the world and the characters, environments and adventures we're continuing to develop.
Of course, there's still plenty we can't reveal just yet!
Founder and Creative Director Amber Stacey, singing to a live audience.
A Little Bit of Opera!
One of the evening's most special moments was the live premiere of an original aria composed by Kent for one of the characters in Bones: Wandering Soul.
The piece tells the rather sombre story of an opera singer reflecting on her passing. It's a beautiful and emotional moment within the game, and a lovely example of how music helps us tell stories that extend far beyond our little protagonist. It also happens to be the very first aria Kent has ever written, and we absolutely love what he's created!
In another rather personal milestone, Studio Tinkerhaus founder and creative director Amber Stacey returned to the stage after eight years away from performing, taking on the vocal performance for the evening. With a background in classical singing and musical theatre, bringing these two creative worlds together was something particularly meaningful. After years spent working in animation and game development, it was a wonderful opportunity to revisit a first love while celebrating the new creative journey.
And yes, there may have been a few happy tears involved!
Creating an independent game is no small undertaking, particularly when you're a tiny team with big ambitions. As we continue developing our vertical slice, opportunities like this remind us why we're putting so much love and hard work into Bones: Wandering Soul. To see our game represented alongside other wonderful Australian titles, and to hear our original music brought to life by a full orchestra, was an experience we'll treasure for a very long time.
It was also a lovely opportunity to share the work of our team with an audience who may have been discovering Bones: Wandering Soul for the very first time.
A huge thank you to the Casey Philharmonic Orchestra, the wonderful musicians and everyone involved in bringing Level Up! to life. An especially big thank you to Kent for the extraordinary work he continues to put into the music of our game. So much of what he creates happens quietly behind the scenes, and it was a joy to finally celebrate that work in such a spectacular way.
We'd also like to thank everyone who attended the concert, stopped by our merchandise table, picked up a little piece of Bones: Wandering Soul or simply came over for a chat. Your encouragement and support genuinely mean the world to our small team.
We also remain incredibly grateful to VicScreen and Screen Australia for believing in Bones: Wandering Soul and supporting us in the early stages of development. Without their support, we simply wouldn't have had the opportunity to bring this little skeleton and his world to life. For a small independent studio like ours, that early belief and encouragement means more than we can ever really express, and we're so thankful to have been given the opportunity to share our story with the world.
There's still a long road ahead as we continue bringing Bones: Wandering Soul to life, but moments like these make the journey all the more worthwhile.
Thank you for coming along for the adventure.
With love, the Studio Tinkerhaus team 💜
