![“[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)
Conservatory wishes the community happy holidays
Annual holiday show produces festive and unprecedented performances
December 13, 2020
On Friday Dec. 11, the upper school community watched Harker’s middle school and upper school performing arts groups during the assembly period. Orchestra members faded in and out of the screen, the small rectangles of flutists morphing into an aggregation of violinists as each of their bows undulated to the rhythm. The dancers of the upper school dance team Kinetic Krew hit every beat of “White Flag,” all moving in sync with the dancers around them. Downbeat sang and danced in various socially-distanced formations in their classic costumes and more. Together, the Harker performing arts community delivered holiday cheer in one festive performance: the annual Holiday Show.
This year’s Holiday Show, also known as “Big Assembly Day” (BAD), virtually featured one breakthrough after another in a pre-recorded video. By overcoming the technical challenges and barriers that came with asynchronously recording and compiling a performance, performers and instructors filled computer screens with a cheery holiday energy that uplifted the Harker community’s spirit.
“Performing virtually was a very new experience,” said Emily Zhou (11), a flutist in the upper school orchestra. “Nevertheless, I had so much fun throughout the process and was very happy with the final orchestra recording.”
The order of the show:
1. Grade 7-8 Jazz Band played “Winter Wonderland” by Felix Bernard and arranged by Paul Crook
2. Cantilena sang “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” by Hugh Martin and Ralph Blane and arranged by upper school vocal music teacher Susan Nace
3. The grade 7-8 orchestra played “The Christmas Song” by Robert Wells and Mel Tormé and arranged by Michael Sweeney
4. Kinetic Krew danced to “White Flag” by Bishop Briggs
5. Grade 6 String Orchestra played “Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy” by Pyotr Tchaikovsky and arranged by Robert Longfield
6. Grade 6 Band played “The Little Drummer Boy” by Katherine Davis and arranged by John O’Reilly
7. Downbeat sang “Deck the Nutcracker Hall” by Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky and arranged by Greg Gilpin
8. The upper school Jazz Band and Lab Band played “Happy” by Pharrell Williams and arranged by Mike Tomaro
9. The upper school orchestra played “Sleigh Ride” by Leroy Anderson
