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The student news site of The Harker School.

Harker Aquila

The student news site of The Harker School.

Harker Aquila

The student news site of The Harker School.

Harker Aquila

American jazz pianist Taylor Eigsti speaks on the effects of the pandemic on musicians. “To really understand the production of what goes on to put a show on, it really is a deep dive, since we kind of have to do this stuff ourselves now,” Eigsti said. “We have to wear a lot of hats; we have to learn how to be a sound engineer [and] a lighting person.”

All jazzed up

by Emily Tan, Features Editor January 27, 2021

In a broadcast of his 2018 Harker Concert Series performance, jazz pianist and composer Taylor Eigsti slides his fingers into place on the piano on the Patil Theater stage after a brief pause. With an...

From left to right, Jasmine Li (10), Sarah Raymond (12) and Aastha Mangla (10) rehearse lines in the Rothschild Performing Arts Center on Nov. 18. All three students are performing in senior director Vaishnavi Murari's play "It's Our Town, Too."

The show must go on: Student directors prepare plays to be shown virtually

by Alysa Suleiman, A&E Editor December 18, 2020

Ever since joining the performing arts community at the upper school in freshman year, Topaz Gao (12) knew they found their place of inspiration. Their journey in theater inspired them to dabble in playwriting,...

Swift’s career over the past decade or so has been defined by bright, showy music videos and star-studded live performances complete with pyrotechnics and magnificent displays. Current pandemic limitations have obviously altered the entertainment landscape, but Swift’s latest albums are proof that her genius lies not with the flamboyance of Hollywood but with the heart of her success: songwriting.

The mastermind of Taylor Swift, ever more a transcendent musician

by Varsha Rammohan, Editor-in-chief December 14, 2020

She’s done it again. In the last sixteen months, singer-songwriter and all-around musical vanguard Taylor Swift has released 56 new songs, six music videos, three feature-length films and two albums....

After Downbeat's performance, the upper school Jazz Band & Lab Band directed by Dave Hart played "Happy" by Pharrell Williams and arranged by Mike Tomaro.

Conservatory wishes the community happy holidays

by Emily Tan, Features Editor 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...

Kinetic Krew dances outside during a section of their virtual "White Flag" performance. The video was shown during the school meeting on Dec. 3.

No retreat, no surrender

by Alysa Suleiman, A&E Editor December 11, 2020

In wartime, a white flag represents an ultimate, definite concession. It calls the surrender, requests the truce and cements the defeat. But now, the pandemic has waged a war against normalcy, threatening...

Posters for "Let It Snow" (2019) and "The Polar Express" (2004). "Let It Snow" (2019) follows a series of relationships on Christmas Eve in a small snowy town, while "The Polar Express" features the adventures of a group of three children on Christmas Eve.

6 movies to warm you up this holiday season

by Sally Zhu, Humans of Harker Profiler December 9, 2020

During this holiday season, though we might not all have the opportunity to ski through snowy hills in Lake Tahoe or gather around a fireplace at a large Christmas party, we can still fill our time up...

I like my pens inky, my paper smooth and my pencils precise. Fancy writing supplies don’t necessarily give rise to magnificent works or penmanship, but, hey, they look and feel cool.

Sara’s Stationery: Pens

by Sara Yen, Winged Post Editor-in-Chief December 4, 2020

I like my pens inky, my paper smooth and my pencils precise. Fancy writing supplies don’t necessarily give rise to magnificent works or penmanship, but, hey, they look and feel cool. I’m by no means...

Student-produced podcasts like "Jock of All Trades" and those created by the Harker Podcast Network are becoming increasingly popular forms of entertainment for students during remote learning.

Podcasting from home

by Sabrina Zhu, Assistant STEM Editor November 4, 2020

Four students crouch in the back of the journalism room, their heads close together. A Blue Yeti microphone is barely visible, hidden at the center of their tight huddle. A voice speaks up. “Hey everyone!...

Take a step back from the chaos of the election. Limit your intake of news and social media pre-and-post election. Encourage positive conversations rather than heated debates over partisan topics. Practice relaxation techniques, be it yoga, meditation or anything else.

Staying Healthy with Saloni: Election edition

by Saloni Shah, Humans of Harker Editor-in-Chief November 1, 2020

How many times a day do you read political tweets? How many times do you scroll through Instagram posts encouraging you to vote one way or the other? How many times have your conversations with friends...

In the next few years, K-pop’s popularity can be expected to attain even greater heights worldwide: wider recognition of the K-pop industry and more meaningful interactions between both Western and Korean artists will follow.

The rise of K-pop: crossing over to the Western market

by Michelle Liu, Winged Post Design Editor October 28, 2020

BTS and Nicki Minaj. Blackpink and Cardi B. These artists hail from opposite sides of the world, yet their names stand right next to each other under the titles of a recent series of crossovers between...

Judi Souza, who first began volunteering as a poll worker in the election of 1980, has helped voters at the polls for more than 20 years, gaining a valuable and extensive amount of experience along the way. “I have always been civic-minded and I thought it'd be something to do. There were ads in the paper saying that they needed help and I was intrigued,” Souza recalls.

So you wanna be a poll worker?

by Sriya Batchu and Michelle Liu October 28, 2020

Anyone who has ever cast a ballot in-person has been helped by a poll worker, individuals who dedicate their time and energy to the impressive and difficult task of staffing the election. From checking...

Clicking #rollerskating on any social media platform is sure to conjure lively videos of agile roller skaters navigating the concrete mazes of skate parks, ebullient dancers jamming out on their wheels and the hiss of toe stops with “Dreams” by Fleetwood Mac playing in the background. Many have fallen for the dreamy aesthetic of quad skating depicted online, myself included.

Let’s (sc)roll: Roller skating community finds new members during quarantine

by Arely Sun, Lifestyle Editor October 12, 2020

Clicking #rollerskating on any social media platform is sure to conjure lively videos of agile roller skaters navigating the concrete mazes of skate parks, ebullient dancers jamming out on their wheels...

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