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

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...

This article tells the stories of students personal experiences relating to the COVID-19 pandemic, including its impacts in sports, music and health. Solitude became our reality from March of 2020 to June of 2021 as the COVID-19 pandemic continued on, and more social connection has emerged out of the return to in-person learning this school year.

‘A reality check’: Students share their personal stories with COVID-19

by Sarah Mohammed and Isha Moorjani March 31, 2022

Small rectangular boxes fill the computer screen, each one carrying a familiar face, a friend or a teacher. The Zoom page serves as the only window to “normal” life. A day at the upper school, once...

Anoushka Khatri (12) and Samvita Gautham (11) rehearse on Feb. 4 in the Patil Theater for the Spring Musical. This years Spring Musical will be The Drowsy Chaperone, performed yesterday, today and tomorrow.

Upcoming upper school performances

by Kinnera Mulam, Alena Suleiman, and Sally Zhu March 25, 2022

Spring Musical: “The Drowsy Chaperone”  March 24-26 This year’s Spring Musical, “The Drowsy Chaperone,” will take place today and tomorrow at 7 p.m. and a 2 p.m. show tomorrow in the Patil...

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...

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 director of instrumental music Dr. David Hart conducts Jazz Band at the instrumental concert on Jan. 14. The winter vocal concert took place on Jan. 13, both in the Patil Theater of the Rothschild Performing Arts Center.

Choral and instrumental ensembles kick off the year with first concerts of 2022

by Ella Yee and Julie Shi January 25, 2022

Upper school choral and instrumental ensemble members performed in the annual winter choral concert and winter instrumental concert, which took place in the Patil Theater at 7:00 p.m. on Jan. 13 and Jan....

Students in Governing Alice played by Sidak Sanghari (9), Leyla Artun (12) and Arianna Weaver (12) wave their hands. Four student-directed plays performed in the Rothschild Performing Arts Center on Jan. 7 and Jan. 8.

Annual Student Directed Showcase production entertains audience amidst COVID-19 pandemic

by Sally Zhu and Kinnera Mulam January 20, 2022

Where can you learn about all of American history and grow inspired by a basketball team’s hunt for new players in one sitting? Or enter a fictitious world of shunned “lefties” and sympathize with...

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...

The Jared Schonig Quintet rehearses during the master class before the concert last Friday. 
The quintet performed later that night in the Patil Theater from 7-9 p.m.

Jared Schonig Quintet performs for Harker Concert Series

by Olivia Xu, Reporter November 12, 2021

The Jared Schonig Quintet performed for the first act of the 2021-22 season of the Harker Concert Series in the Patil Theater at 7 p.m. last Friday after conducting an open master class at 3 p.m. the same...

Benedick speaks about their marriage and love for Beatrice. In the swing cast, Benedick and Beatrice are played by Avayna Glass (9) and Sonya Apsey (10), respectively.

Students perform Fall Play ‘Much Ado About Nothing’ as first in-person performance in over a year

by Kinnera Mulam, Reporter November 3, 2021

Multicolored lights spin as hues of pink and purple dance across the stage in harmony to the soft instrumental music flowing from the speakers. Soldiers and women don elaborate masks with shimmering silver...

Instructor Loren Due and Melody Yazdi (12) practice a move during a capoeira session in April 2019. In addition to capoeira, after school PE class offerings include fencing, yoga, fitness for life, and after school fitness.

Registration for after school classes to fill PE credit requirement open to all grade levels

by Vishnu Kannan, Co-Managing Editor September 4, 2021

Registration for after school classes for PE credit opened to seniors this past week on Wednesday at 12:30 p.m. and to all other grades the following day at 11:15 am. Students can register for these PE...

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