Last week, members of the Hillsborough community got together to appreciate music at HHS’s annual “Unplugged” event.

Robert Fenster, history teacher at HHS, has been running Unplugged since 2002 and says the show gets its name from its all-acoustic nature. Originally, the event was created to give students not involved in organized music programs a chance to showcase their talents.

Compared to other music shows the high school hosts, Unplugged has a very different atmosphere. Unlike Coffeehouse, which is held by the National Art Honor Society and Tri-M, Unplugged is open to anyone who is interested in coming. Parents, siblings, and friends are all welcome to watch the performances.

In order to perform at the event, students must audition either in person or through video submission. Auditions are open to all, which creates the opportunity for students to break out of their shells. Junior Stella Pashaian performed publicly for the first time at Unplugged, singing Bob Dylan’s “Make you Feel my Love”, accompanied by student assistance counselor Gil Pilarte.

“It was different than anything I have ever done before,” Pashaian said. “It was exciting in the most nerve-wracking kind of way, but refreshing.”

To find a nice balance of styles and performers, Fenster invites HHS alumni to perform at the event. This year, returning performers included Matt Bardon, Joe Caponegro, Max Zylowski, and Matt Pignatore.

“Since the school added guitar and other music classes, those students don’t typically have a school-wide showcase that’s open to the public other than our Variety Show and Unplugged,” Fenster said.  “I love to see what songs student pick, ranging from rock classics to current hits.”