As students fill the commons clad in pajamas, they enthusiastically await the program ahead. Roaring voices crowd the room while friends greet each other with hugs and laughter. Cloth and centerpieces created by the National Art Honor Society (NAHS) cover the tables and ribbon laces around the pillars. A sense of community is already evident prior to the shows starting as laughter and smiles take over the room. Tri-M President Logan Carlsen and Vice President Anny Noh take the floor, and the show is anticipated to begin. They start with a warm welcome and personally thank everyone for attending the first coffee house of the year. As everyone eagerly rush to find their seats and prepare to be entertained, chatter about the evening erupts.
The words “Coffee House” appear on the projection as people await the first piece. Suddenly, an orchestra made up of HHS students starts off by playing “Let it go” from Frozen on the piano. Jaws begin to drop, shocked at how well they are able to keep the tempo and stay in harmony throughout the piece. Smiles appear on their faces as they take a bow and exit the stage.
The importance of the Coffee House is clear: a special night of acceptance and warmth is shown as everyone cheers for their peers. The Coffee House is a way for students to show their talents and just have fun in a supportive and comfortable environment. In between performances of Kaitlyn Corson and Mary Riley singing “That’s So True” by Gracie Abrams using guitar and piano, “Lost Boy” by Ruth B performed by Abigail Lott on the piano, and “Picture You” by Chappell Roan sung by Terissa Alex were displays of amazing types of visual art. Shared original sculpture, ceramic, digital art, acrylic, and gouache art for everyone to see and enjoy, the visual arts served as backdrops to the performances of the two pieces that were musically inclined and. This included Marisol Perez’s “light dragon” sculpture, Clara Morgan’s the “The Climb” ceramic, Austin Li’s “Fiji Railroads” digital photography, Vienna Zachariah’s “Carrom Night” acrylic, Aasha Patel’s “Light over the River” gouache, and many more pieces to guide the night in the right direction.
When the night of artwork and creativity came to an end, the audience burst into cheers and applause, showing their satisfaction with the program and the success of the night. The format of the program allows everyone who shares an art piece to be recognized and appreciated. The enthusiasm of the audience shows their respect for the artists brave enough to share their creations. This encouraging feedback will carry into their next performance, creating a sense of community among artists and art lovers.
President Logan Carlsen and Vice President Anny Noh shared their take on what makes this program so special. “A lot of people don’t always get the chance to perform and normally it’s just for parents. It’s important that people get a space with people of their age to perform and show their talents.”
Show participants like senior Connor Mann provided feedback on his song choice and how it spoke to him. “When I was a kid I had the confidence to give everything my best,” he said. “That’s why I have so much energy coming up here and I want to keep it going and never stop and always continue acting and singing.”
Junior Nick Paratto shared photography as his preferred art form. “I can capture moments about sports while the game is going on and focus on a single spot of each game to summarize it,” Paratto said.
Senior Brandon Javier shared the inspiration behind his song choices. “There is emotional power that comes from the lyrics I sing and it reflects my personal experiences,” he said.
One of the junior singers, Emily Henderson, gave her take on performing. “I was nervous at first but once I stepped up to the microphone, I knew I needed to do this again,” said Henderson.
The Coffee House creates a one-of-a-kind community space for peers to share and appreciate art. New, fun, and unique perspectives were shared by performers with the audience, so all involved positively benefited and learned new ways of making art.
