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 takes the stage with an a cappella arrangement of TV show “Euphoria”’s song “All for Us. Spring Choral Concert took place last Thursday at 6:30 p.m., with performances by upper school singing groups Bel Canto, Camerata, Cantilena and Downbeat.

School meeting recap 4/18/22: Downbeat performance, lockdown drill and Green Team club week

by Selina Xu, Asst. Multimedia Editor April 25, 2022

Associated Student Body (ASB) President Dawson Chen (12) opened the school meeting last Monday in the Athletics Center. Harker Spirit Leadership Team (HSLT) Co-Secretary of Athletic Affairs BB Ajlouny...

Four Downbeat members sing towards the audience during their Santana Row Spirit of the Row performance. Downbeat, an upper school performance ensemble of 13 students, qualified for Varsity Vocals quarterfinals in November.

Downbeat returns with cheery holiday season and qualifies to Varsity Vocals quarterfinals

by Katelyn Zhao, Assistant Sports Editor February 3, 2022

Lights dim in the Rothschild Performing Arts Center theater and as the opening line of "Twelve Days of Christmas" rings out in the air, students, either dressed in shimmering gold a-line dresses or velvet...

Upper school Dean of Students Kevin Williamson introduces upper school security guard Josh Conti, who followed Williamson with more advice about parking lot safety, reminding students to not risk their safety when rushing to class in the morning and to walk on the sidewalks. Conti also urged both students and faculty to not text and drive, sharing a personal anecdote from when he was hit by a driver who was texting while driving.

School meeting recap 1/5/22: Traffic and safety, Kicks Against Cancer and Student Directed Showcase

by Isha Moorjani, News Editor January 11, 2022

Associated Student Body (ASB) Treasurer Aaditya Gulati (12) began the school meeting last Wednesday. Aaditya introduced Dean of Students Kevin Williamson, who gave an announcement about parking and...

Richard Zhang (11) plays with the orchestra during the Big Assembly Day opening number, Sleigh Ride. Big Assembly Day occurred on Friday, Dec. 9.

K-12 performing arts students shine at in-person Big Assembly Day

by Alysa Suleiman and Sally Zhu January 9, 2022

Crack!  Heads turn, and the audience erupts into peals of laughter.  The infamous slapstick, two wooden boards that upper school orchestra percussionist Yejin Song (12) clapped together to imitate...

Downbeat members Kris Estrada (11), Samvita Gautham (11) and Shayla He (10) smile as they introduce the performances at Santana Row on Tuesday. Upper school performing arts groups Downbeat, Kinetic Krew and Harker Dance Company traveled to Santana Row on Tuesday evening to perform festive routines filled with holiday cheer.

Harker performing arts groups dazzle at ‘Spirit of The Row’ show

by Sally Zhu and Alena Suleiman December 11, 2021

Three high school students, two jazzed up in glittery gold dresses and the other adorned in a navy-blue collared shirt with a gold tie and scarf, chatter animatedly on a stage in front of a 40-foot-tall...

Medini Halepete (10) adjusts the Green Team booth, which featured a spin-the-wheel with environmental questions and potted succulents in front of Nichols Hall. Fourteen different upper school clubs hosted booths in or in front of Nichols and in the quad, with posters and interactive games or activities, many designed for lower or middle school students.

Upper school campus hosts first ever Harker Day

by Sally Zhu and Selina Xu October 13, 2021

From the giant rainbow inflatable arching over the quad to the math building transformed into kitten central, Harker Day on Saturday brought together community members from across campuses and ages, to...

After Downbeats 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...

Senior class dean Karl Kuehn takes a shot at the basket during the knock out game at last Fridays school meeting. In the game, students from all grade levels and faculty members competed for a bag of gummy worms.

School meeting recap 3/6/2020: Soccer semifinals, Downbeat performance and basketball competition

by Lucy Ge, Asst. News Editor March 10, 2020

Avi Gulati (12) welcomed everyone to school meeting. Adhya Hoskote (12), Meona Khetrapal (11) and Rohan Varma (11) gave the Eagle Update. Boys soccer won NORCAL semifinals. Upper school director of...

Downbeat senior Joel Morel solos during a performance of the song Joshua Fought the Battle of Jericho at a performance on Dec. 6 in The Patil Theater. This performance was a part of Downbeats tour, which takes the choral group around the Bay Area every year.

Downbeat advances to Varsity Vocals a cappella semifinals

by Kathy Fang, Editor-in-Chief February 25, 2020

The upper school’s vocal ensemble, Downbeat, placed third in Varsity Vocals’ International Championship of High School Acapella (ICHSA) regional quarterfinals this weekend, earning the ensemble a spot...

Members of the upper school all-male dance team Kinetic Krew perform during the annual BAD concert.

Annual BAD concert from student performers brings holiday cheer to all campuses

by Alysa Suleiman, Sports Reporter December 16, 2019

The luxuriously heavy crimson drapes slowly unfurl to the wings of the stage, revealing a vast ensemble of seated students, dressed in identical cream-gray sweatshirts, Santa hats or reindeer ears and...

Downbeat wraps up their tour last Friday with their final show of the day, at the upper schools Patil Theater. Their closing number, pictured here, was a dance number, Boogie Woogie Santa Claus, featuring soloist Henry Wiese (12).

Downbeat travels around the Bay Area during their annual Winter Tour

by Sriya Batchu, Reporter December 12, 2019

Last Friday, Downbeat went on their annual winter tour where they sang and spread cheer at six different stops. The group left the upper school around 9 a.m. and visited the preschool campus, where...

All upper school choral performers finished last Fridays concert with a closing song, Carly Simons Let the River Run. The concert, which was the ensembles senior night, honored senior vocalists after this final performance.

Upper school vocal ensembles celebrate nature in eco-music choral concert

by Alysa Suleiman, Reporter May 2, 2019

Colorful lights illuminate the wide stage as a flood of students briskly step to their places on the multi-leveled risers. With a precise flick of her hand, Susan Nace, upper school vocal teacher and director...

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