When the world shut down in the spring of 2020, one creative movement took hold everywhere—virtual ensembles. These performances allowed musicians to record individually to a shared click track, later combining their recordings into a cohesive, full ensemble performance. The result captured the sound and spirit of a live concert, even when gathering in person wasn’t possible.

A virtual collaboration with Tulane University in New Orleans began when the marching band was invited to perform the Alma Mater for the university’s virtual commencement ceremony. With only a month before the event, there was little time to onboard, sync, and edit such a complex performance.

Rather than settle for a standard virtual format, the project was elevated into a fully realized 3D stage production—complete with virtual moving cameras and dynamic lighting. A smaller-scale version of this idea had previously been tested with Kutztown University’s drumline, making it possible to expand the approach for Tulane’s larger ensemble.

The foundation of the project’s success was efficient organization and synchronization. A custom animated “explainer” video was created to provide uniform recording instructions and a consistent play-along track to every performer, ensuring all submissions aligned visually and musically.

A streamlined system was also developed to gather and manage the video submissions. Performers uploaded their recordings through custom forms that automatically sorted their entries into a shared database. Each editor had real-time access to this system, enabling quick downloads and updates throughout the process.

Synchronization and assembly were handled in Adobe Premiere, with audio dynamically linked to Adobe Audition for mixing and video to Adobe After Effects for animation. This interconnected workflow allowed multiple collaborators to work simultaneously on sound, visuals, and motion graphics—bringing Tulane’s Alma Mater to life in a way that felt grand, inspiring, and uniquely fitting for the moment.