![“I wasn't discouraged by some of the obstacles we faced. I learned a lot from the leadership. I found that different people need different ways of receiving feedback — you can't [just] tell them to do something and expect the best. [Some] people needed more incentive. A large part of my role was to figure out what worked for everyone and to figure out how to lead all these separate individuals as a team,” Suhana Bhandare (’26) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/SuhanaBhandare_JasmineHansra-1-1200x798.jpg)
![“This is actually from Randy Pausch Randy P. Brick: ‘Walls are there for a reason. You have to show how much you want to overcome them.’ You have to show how much you want something. That's what I've always been able to do with tennis, Link Crew and getting that internship [with Kushy Baby]. It’s important pushing through that — getting around that brick wall, climbing over it or clawing through it,” Yash Sachdeva (’26) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/YashSachdeva_RamBatchu-copy-1200x1002.jpg)
![“[Building nerf blasters] became this outlet of creativity for me that hasn't been matched by anything else. The process [of] making a build complete to your desire is such a painstakingly difficult process, but I've had to learn from [the skills needed from] soldering to proper painting. There's so many different options for everything, if you think about it, it exists. The best part is [that] if it doesn't exist, you can build it yourself," Ishaan Parate said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/DSC_8149-900x604.jpg)
![“When I came into high school, I was ready to be a follower. But DECA was a game changer for me. It helped me overcome my fear of public speaking, and it's played such a major role in who I've become today. To be able to successfully lead a chapter of 150 students, an officer team and be one of the upperclassmen I once really admired is something I'm [really] proud of,” Anvitha Tummala ('21) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Screen-Shot-2021-07-25-at-9.50.05-AM-900x594.png)
![“I think getting up in the morning and having a sense of purpose [is exciting]. I think without a certain amount of drive, life is kind of obsolete and mundane, and I think having that every single day is what makes each day unique and kind of makes life exciting,” Neymika Jain (12) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/Screen-Shot-2017-06-03-at-4.54.16-PM.png)
![“My slogan is ‘slow feet, don’t eat, and I’m hungry.’ You need to run fast to get where you are–you aren't going to get those championships if you aren't fast,” Angel Cervantes (12) said. “I want to do well in school on my tests and in track and win championships for my team. I live by that, [and] I can do that anywhere: in the classroom or on the field.”](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/DSC5146-900x601.jpg)
![“[Volleyball has] taught me how to fall correctly, and another thing it taught is that you don’t have to be the best at something to be good at it. If you just hit the ball in a smart way, then it still scores points and you’re good at it. You could be a background player and still make a much bigger impact on the team than you would think,” Anya Gert (’20) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/AnnaGert_JinTuan_HoHPhotoEdited-600x900.jpeg)
![“I'm not nearly there yet, but [my confidence has] definitely been getting better since I was pretty shy and timid coming into Harker my freshman year. I know that there's a lot of people that are really confident in what they do, and I really admire them. Everyone's so driven and that has really pushed me to kind of try to find my own place in high school and be more confident,” Alyssa Huang (’20) said.](https://harkeraquila.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/AlyssaHuang_EmilyChen_HoHPhoto-900x749.jpeg)
Upper school vocal ensembles celebrate nature in eco-music choral concert
All upper school choral performers finished last Friday’s concert with a closing song, Carly Simon’s “Let the River Run.” The concert, which was the ensembles’ senior night, honored senior vocalists after this final performance.
May 2, 2019
Colorful lights illuminate the wide stage as a flood of students briskly step to their places on the multi-leveled risers. With a precise flick of her hand, Susan Nace, upper school vocal teacher and director of Camerata, Cantilena and co-director of Bel Canto, begins to conduct “Turn the World Around”, the opening number. Voices harmonize through the clear acoustics of the Rothschild Performing Arts Center as electric blues, yellows, and magentas dapple the eager faces of the performers, signifying the beginning of Harker Upper School’s Choral Concert.
Beginning at 6:30 p.m. and ending around 8:00 p.m., the Choral Concert featured the Harker’s upper school ensembles of Bel Canto, Sus4, Camerata, Cantilena and Downbeat. Upper school teachers Susan Nace, Laura Lang-Ree, K-12 Performing Arts Director, and Jennifer Sandusky, upper school vocal teacher and co-director of Bel Canto and Downbeat, organized the event and directed the groups’ practice sessions. The 20 different songs highlighted eco-music, songs that show appreciation for the environment and the preservation of nature.
Next, Bel Canto performed “Shir Hama’a lot”, a Hebrew song, and “Im Walde,” a German song. For their last piece, “Tjak!,” Bel Canto circled around each other and clapped and chanted as Austin Killam (10) stood in the center, chanting in a native language to replicate a monkey chant from the Hindu story Ramayana.
Student club Sus4 was the second group to perform this evening, performing “Happy” by Pharrell Williams, “When the Earth Stands Still” by Don Macdonald, and “In My Life” by Lennon McCartney.
Camerata and Cantilena performed songs such as “We Belong to the Earth” by J. David Moore and utilized instruments to replicate the sounds of flowing water, raindrops, rustling leaves and more. Each song highlighted multiple soloists, their voices echoing in time to the steady beat of a hand-played drum.
Cantilena also honored graduating student conductor Abigail Wisdom (12) as she conducted her fellow members through the notes of “Here comes the Sun” by George Harrison, receiving a standing ovation from the instrumentalists, teachers, and vocal groups.
Downbeat concluded the individual ensemble performances with renditions of songs Erika Lloyd’s “Cells Planets,” Michael Buble’s “Feeling Good,” YEBBA’s “Evergreen,” Little Mix’s Wings” and Mark Ronson’s “Uptown Funk” as members moved in perfect formation while maintaining effortless movement, their intricate sequined costumes giving off brilliant flashes of gold.
As the last chords of the song rang out, Bel Canto joined Downbeat onstage for the final performance of the night: “Let the River Run” by Carly Simon.
As the upper school directors of the show walked out with bouquets of flowers in their arms, the graduating seniors were called forward to be honored and congratulated for their dedication to the Upper School’s performing arts department. Parents and friends in the audience cheered the performers on with a final applause to the as the lights slowly dimmed, signifying the end of Harker’s 2019 Choral Concert.
