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

Downbeat performers pose for a photo at the International Championship of High School A Cappella (ICHSA) on March 10. Downbeat placed fourth in the quarter finals against seven other a cappella groups from California.

Downbeat places fourth at ICHSA quarter finals

by Young Min and Alison Yang March 20, 2023

Harker’s show choir, Downbeat, placed fourth in the quarter finals of the International Championship of High School A Cappella (ICHSA) on March 10 at John Burroughs High School, competing against seven...

Yasmin Sudarsanam (10), Eileen Ma (12) and Maya Affaki (10) dance to  Peer Pressure. Eileen choreographed the dance by translating her favorite moments from the song to dance movements.

Growing “Better 2Gether”: Students perform in annual Dance Production

by Young Min and Alison Yang February 19, 2023

The curtains draw back as the Patil Theater is plunged into darkness. Suddenly, strings of neon light descend, illuminating the stage as the first notes of “It Takes Two” by Rob Base and DJ EZ Rock...

Harshini Chaturvedula (11) plays the viola with Orchestra during the Winter Instrumental Concert. Held on Jan. 13, the concert invited audiences to watch multiple upper school instrumental groups and soloists perform various musical styles, ranging from upbeat Latin jazz to slow ballads.

Annual Winter Instrumental Concert showcases diverse musical styles and performances

by Ariana Goetting and Young Min February 2, 2023

Warm orange lights illuminate the stage as Lab Band settles into their chairs, carefully preparing their instruments. With the flick of the conductor’s wrist, music flows and reverberates throughout...

Performers unveil work in the arts during Student Directed Showcase productions

by Sidak Sanghari, Hima Thota, Alison Yang, and Sally Zhu January 18, 2023

A misshapen blob of students, dressed in costumes ranging from floral shirts to ski boots to construction vests, gather onstage. Wrapping their arms around each other, they squat down, heads bowed in anticipation....

Cantilenans Ananya Das (10), Miki Mitarai (11) and Lucy Feng (12) sing National Weather Report in winter clothing. Cantilena closed the concert with this song to remind the audience about the warm winters in California.

Choir groups bring audiences around the world in ‘Music from the Eastern Hemisphere’

by Shiv Deokar and Yifan Li December 3, 2022

Harker’s Bel Canto, Camerata and Cantilena along with debuting groups, Dolce Voce and Rhapsody performed in the show ‘Music from the Eastern Hemisphere’ on Nov. 10 in the Patil Theater. The concert...

Upper school composer Paul Woodruff sits at the piano, playing notes of a song. Woodruff joined Harker 12 years ago, and has since been composing for music for upper school musical groups.

Composing cadence: Upper school melodist writes music through time

by Vika Gautham, Shareen Chahal, and Olivia Xu May 30, 2022

Euphonic voices fill the air with joyful tunes as upper school composer Paul Woodruff sits at the piano, observing the students implementing his modified arrangement of the classic, “Walking on Sunshine.”...

Certificate seniors Sujith Pakala, Irene Yuan, Teresa Cai, Malar Bala, Richie Amarillas and Ysabel Chen pose with their certificates after Senior Showcase. Friday’s Senior Showcase and Hammies Ceremony recognized this year’s 17 graduating Certificate students as well as other Conservatory members.

Senior performing arts students conclude year at upper school with final showcases and awards

by Aryana Bharali, Kevin Zhang, and Sally Zhu May 22, 2022

Dancers, actors, instrumentalists, vocalists, tech crew, students from all aspects of the performing arts line up on stage, their smiles bright and wide as the stage lights shine down on them. They hold...

Members of Bel Canto perform at a dress rehearsal for the Choirs In Concert. The concert, themed Peace, Hope, Love, took place in the Patil Theater on April 21.

Bel Canto, Camerata, Cantilena, Downbeat dazzle in Peace, Hope, Love concert

by Ella Yee, Co-Asst. Multimedia Editor May 3, 2022

A song inspired by South African melodies, another dedicated to the war in Ukraine and a melody accompanied on the erhu, a Chinese stringed instrument. Members of upper school choirs Bel Canto, Camerata,...

Shiven Balaji (9) plays the saxophone with Lab Band during the Evening of Jazz performances on April 14. The Grade 7-8 Jazz Band and Upper School Jazz Band also participated in the concert, with the groups playing a combined total of 15 pieces.

Seniors round off last band performances at annual Evening of Jazz concert

by Sally Zhu, A&E and Lifestyle Editor April 24, 2022

A powerful jazz melody erupts from the stage, notes flowing out of trumpets, vibrating through the strings of electric guitars and bouncing off of swinging drumsticks and into the audience’s ears. The...

Anoushka Khatri (12), who plays Janet Van De Graff, answers questions from curious reporters about her upcoming wedding. The musical followed the wedding of Janet and Robert Martin and the chaos that ensues.

‘The Drowsy Chaperone’ spring musical returns in-person with 4 standing ovations

by Sally Zhu, A&E and Lifestyle Editor April 12, 2022

The lights blink on, the curtains fall and the show draws to a close. Audience members return to reality, after a two-hour long, distant adventure full of laughter, anticipation, drama and, most importantly,...

Harrison Chang (12) plays the marimba with two wooden bars in each hand at the Chamber Music Concert on Feb. 25. A total of 13 students performed in small instrumental ensembles in the Patil Theater to live and virtual audiences.

Student instrumental ensembles host Chamber Music Concert

by Sally Zhu, A&E and Lifestyle Editor March 5, 2022

13 upper school students performed a total of five instrumental pieces during the Chamber Music Concert on Feb. 25 at 7 p.m. in the Patil Theater, with instruments ranging from piano to violin to marimba.  Chamber...

Dancers in the Way Down We Go routine strike a pose during a dress rehearsal for this years dance production, Blast from the Past. 130 students performed in the shows on Jan. 28 and Jan. 29 in the Rothschild Performing Arts Centers Patil Theater.

‘Blast from the Past’: Dance production 2022 reimagines music from past shows

by Sally Zhu and Michelle Liu February 7, 2022

A hush of excitement falls over the audience as the lights dim in Patil Theater. The curtains draw back. Regal trumpet sounds blare from the soundtrack, announcing the dancers spotlighted in formation...

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