Happy Valley Guitar Orchestra

The Happy Valley Guitar Orchestra (HVGO) brings Only in Dreams to The Drake in Amherst for an evening of immersive, genre-spanning music. HVGO is a large ensemble led by Artistic Director Joseph Ricker that blends classical, acoustic, electric, and bass guitars, exploring the full orchestral range of the instrument in performances that emphasize color, texture, rhythm, and collective sound.At the heart of the program is an extended suite from Final Fantasy IV by composer Nobuo Uematsu, presented in original arrangements that reveal the score’s epic scale, emotional depth, and narrative sweep. Surrounding this centerpiece are works by Bach and Brahms alongside songs by Stereolab and Weezer. Only in Dreams invites listeners into a richly imagined sound world where the guitar orchestra becomes a powerful vehicle for storytelling, atmosphere, and shared experience.