On Wednesday, Nov. 20, in the Little Theater, Archie Williams’ music class Performance Workshop (PW) put on a small-scale, partly experimental music performance. The performance showcased students’ musical talents as they performed covers of varying genres. Lasting from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., the showcase displayed diverse student talent, providing an opportunity for students to test out new musical styles without the pressure of a larger audience.
Archie Williams music director and organizer of the event Mario Aparicio began the show with a quick tribute to his students alongside Liz Whitney, the vocal coach for PW. Both Whitney and Aparicio’s students contributed to the showcase, with a total of nine different performances. Aparicio has presented a handful of musical workshops at Archie Williams and felt this showcase was a success.
“Tonight, it was just awesome to see all the parents, family, and friends here and see [the students] perform so that was really special,” Aparicio said.
To begin the performances, junior Hanna Janson covered “Bewitched, Bothered, and Bewildered” by Ella Fitzgerald while Whitney played the accompaniment on piano. The song, with Hanna’s smooth vocals and Whitney’s jazzy, upbeat piano, started the workshop on a lively note, enticing the audience.
Following the trend of singers performing alongside Whitney on piano, sophomore Lena Marcucci covered “Misty” by Ella Fitzgerald. Following the same melodic vibes as Hanna, the song put the crowd in a trance with its soft notes with Liz’s piano accompaniment.
Lena believes the best part of being in PW and taking part in the shows goes beyond just performing on stage.
“It’s fun to be in front of an audience, and especially in PW when you get to be with a band, you’re performing with people you know and you’ve worked on the songs for so long, so it’s really exciting to have that final moment,” Lena said.
The next group, featuring junior Ryan Cunningham on trombone, sophomore Gus Ziegler on piano, and senior Zeke Cunningham on drums, included a more colorful array of instruments compared to previous pieces. Gus led on a lively cover of John Coltrane’s “My Favorite Things” on the piano. While maintaining the jazzy energy of earlier acts, their rendition brought a more upbeat tempo, energizing the audience.
Many Archie Williams music students have been playing their instruments since they were young, and Gus believes dealing with nerves is different for all of them.
“Nerves are a problem, but you have to realize that whether you mess up or whether you do good, music isn’t about being perfect; it’s just about having fun,” Gus said.
In the following set, Adora Nzewi, one of Whitney’s students, sang “In a Sentimental Mood” by Duke Ellington, beautifully paying tribute to the song with her soft vocals. Following Adora was the first duet of the night, with sister duo sophomore Petra Betti and middle schooler Dorian Betti singing “Shallow” by Lady Gaga. Both girls sang beautifully, hitting all the high notes and receiving positive feedback from the crowd as their song concluded.
After her act, Petra remained on the stage and brought up junior Ben Bergen on guitar while she sang “My Mind” by Yebba. They filled up the theater with chilling vocals and a change of scenery, as Ben’s guitar at Petra’s side created an ethereal duo.
Joining Petra after her second performance was Zeke on drums alongside Alex Casey playing the vibraphone to cover the song “Angel Eyes” by Matt Dennis. The trio followed the same jazzy pattern seen throughout the night, with a special added touch of the chimes from the xylophone.
To wrap it up, seniors Elijah Galland and Noah Casey both played electric guitar while Zeke accompanied them on drums. As they finished, Aparicio thanked the audience for coming and applauded all the students who performed and displayed their talent. Audience members stood up and cheered one last time for their friends, family, and community members who performed.
The Musician Showcase left the audience leaving the theater enthralled and entertained, showcasing the talent and passion of the program and its students. Their next performance, the Jazz Combo Concert, will take place Dec. 9 at 7 p.m. in the Little Theater.
