![“[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)
A smooth trombone melody floats through the theater, intertwining with the rich sound of a saxophone in a playful call-and-response pattern. Drums and bass kick in, immersing the audience in the upbeat music. As the song continues, audience members begin to dance to the rhythmic tones booming from the stage.
Caribbean lounge band The Tropicales brought their dynamic music to the Patil Theater last Friday from 7 to 9 p.m. Their performance was part of the Concert Series, where artists perform on Harker’s stage to inspire students by sharing their passion for the arts.
The Tropicales consists of trombonist Charlie Halloran, saxophonist Brent Rose, percussionist Cesar Bacaro, drummer Jafet Perez, guitarist Danny Abel and bass guitarist Pete Olynciw. They flew in from their hometown of New Orleans, where Caribbean influences dominate music.
“A lot of New Orleans music has Caribbean influence, and a lot of Caribbean music has New Orleans influence,” Halloran said. “We try to thread that needle.”
Songs like “Ocaso Marino” and “Jiu Jutsu”, both from their latest album, “Jump Up”. introduced the soulful music of the Caribbean. The band added music inspired by the traditions of Trinidad calypsos and Martinique biguines, and they also played songs from their older album, “Shake the Rum”, including “Tabu” and “Fifty Cents.”
The band played while smiling and energetically bobbing their heads throughout their performance. Caribbean music has roots in dance traditions, so Halloran encouraged audience members to stand up and dance to the beat.
“It felt a lot like a dance party,” frosh Emma Zhou said. “The performers encouraged us. When I was dancing to their music, I was listening to all the minute details, and that made me appreciate it even more.”
Parent Paul Knauer attended the concert due to his interest in The Tropicales’ music. Throughout the night, he enjoyed the energy that the band brought to the stage.
“The performance was definitely more along the lines of club music,” Knauer said. “My favorite part was just the general vibe of the band and everybody listening. It made me feel upbeat, like I needed a beverage with fruit juice in it. It was perfect for a Friday night.”
This performance marked the Tropicales’ first time playing at a school, since the members usually perform in clubs and festivals. Before the performance, they also visited Orchestra and Jazz Band during class. During a masterclass they hosted after school, the band members rehearsed together for a while before inviting students to the stage to learn and perform a song with the members.
“We wanted to show students that music is enjoyable, even if they don’t pursue a career in it,” Halloran said. “We had them come up to the stage for that reason, so that they could share that moment together.”
Trombonist Yinan Zhou (12) worked with Halloran in both the masterclass and his Jazz Band session. Through the practice sessions, Yinan received insight from Halloran on how to improve his range and articulation on the trombone.
“He’s very passionate about helping other people and positively reinforcing them,” Yinan said. “Playing with him was one of the coolest experiences I’ve had here. It inspires me to keep working.”
