A spotlight illuminates Shruti Srinivasan (’25) — now a senior, then a fifth grader — as she dons a crimson velvet cloak and takes center stage. The melody plays, and Shruti, portraying King Arthur, breaks into a soulful verse.

“All I ever wanted was music. All I ever wanted was song. All I ever wanted was harmony, and all to get along.”

These very lyrics, from the fifth-grade play “Joust! A Mighty Medieval Musical,” encapsulate Shruti’s initial motivations to join the world of performing arts. Now, she reminisces back to those times, treasuring the moments of comfort and company from her classmates all around.

“Since then, I realized how fun it is to be on stage and perform for others,” Shruti said. “For me, it was out of joy and a new experience. I remember hanging out with my friend, and it’d be really fun to hear the ensemble singing and then also talk about what we need to practice. So it was that sense of bonding and camaraderie that made me love performing arts.”

Through middle and high school, her desire to perform on stage followed. She quickly noticed a difference in participation and competition when it came to auditioning for bigger roles in high school, causing her to change her approach to auditioning: Shruti gave herself more room to explore the different dynamics of the cast, like taking part in the ensemble.    

“I couldn’t be brought down by the fact that not everything comes to me immediately, and that I have to see other positives,” Shruti said. “When it comes to performing arts, it’s not easy to get exactly the role or the opportunities that you want. There are so many other aspects, like in the ensemble: you get the opportunity to be very versatile and explore multiple characters.”

Shruti has taken part in six upper school productions to date, from comedic musicals like “The Spelling Bee” to somber documentary-style plays like the “Laramie Project.” Onstage, Shruti cherishes community engagement from the audience, seeing the dynamics that each group of viewers brings to performances and feeling a different sense of validation each time. 

“Performing for an audience always gives adrenaline, even if the audience is three people,” Shruti said. “There’s something about other people watching all the effort you put in for so long, and it just pumps you up. When you have more of an interactive audience, who laughs, who claps louder, who cheers more, you feel even more satisfied with the work you’ve put in.”

In tandem with acting, Shruti delved into the world of singing, from taking vocal lessons since the age of ten to most notably joining Downbeat, Harker’s show choir group, in her junior year. She admires the combination of both song and dance, as well as the chance to perform solos. 

“The difference in terms of solo versus singing with the group is that you know everybody’s eyes are on you, so you have to tell the story even more than you would as part of a group,” Shruti said. “It’s all about combining the musicality with your emotions and with how you interpret what you’re singing.”

Shruti not only expresses herself with poise on stage but also seamlessly translates that same quality to her everyday life. Close friend Bhavya Srinivasan (’25), who has participated in performing arts with Shruti since lower school, values Shruti’s care and empathy for those in her community. 

“She will speak her mind, and not everyone is capable of doing that,” Bhavya said. “If something is happening to me and I can’t speak up for myself, she’ll speak up for me. That’s one thing that I really appreciate about her — her being so confident.”

Shruti emphasizes the ingrained commitment that Downbeat instilled in her, which stemmed from countless hours of rehearsals behind the scenes. 

“I always encourage people to think a little bit more optimistically and that with practice, everything gets better,” Shruti said. “It doesn’t seem like that at the moment, but you see the results when you get to the performance. I also have to remind myself and others that it’s a major commitment and we can have that excitement after we get the hard work done.”

Close friend Audrey Feng (’25), who shared multiple classes with Shruti throughout high school, appreciates Shruti’s sense of humor both inside and outside the classroom, and her effort to connect with her classmates and teachers.

“There’s never really a dull moment when you’re around her,” Audrey said. “Every time she enters a room or joins a conversation, you can immediately feel the energy go up. Even if you’re really stressed out, when you talk to her, you’re going to crack a smile.”

As vocal captain this year, Shruti took on more responsibility within the 14-person Downbeat group. She particularly took inspiration from members of the Class of 2024, using their mentorship as a stepping stone for cultivating her own.

“Having that guidance and someone who’s experienced it before really eases you,” Shruti said. “But now, I understand that it’s my turn to give that advice. It’s going from dependent to being the one who’s responsible.”

Shruti’s leadership did not stop there, though. Learning French since sixth grade, she furthered her affinity for the language by joining the French National Honor Society, taking on the role of President in her senior year. Like her leadership role inside Downbeat, Shruti approached her position wholeheartedly, organizing all the events and activities within the society.

“You can see the difficulties of being president, especially with making sure everybody’s responsible with their tasks, and also if there’s a problem, being the one who has to make sure we can adjust,” Shruti said. “I can have that responsibility, but at the same time, that responsibility comes with having to take on the challenges and the problems.”

Shruti has challenged herself all through high school, managing coursework alongside extracurricular pursuits. Biology teacher and Shruti’s adviser Michael Pistacchi commends her tenacious work ethic in both areas over the past four years. 

“She’s a really strong student, and I’ve seen her challenge herself more every year,” Pistacchi said. “I saw her push herself harder and still pull it off. I see her get tired, I see her get stressed out, but she always manages to pick herself up and keep working and get it done.”

Interaction with others inside the arts has always captivated Shruti, whether bonding with her peers during performances or connecting one-on-one with others in her second language.

“With practice and effort, everything pays off in the end,” Shruti said. “You’re going to feel that satisfaction from knowing that you put in the time. With performing arts especially, you always try to be perfect, and that perfectionism is something I’ve had to get over these four years.”