Seniors gathered in the PAC to commemorate the end of a memorable four years, marking their transition to life beyond high school with the Senior Farewell on Thursday. With the student-run event, seniors signed up to showcase their talents in a fun-filled, wholesome, and cheerful manner. Students of all grades were welcome to support from the audience and helped bring the year to a close.
The showcase consisted of eleven acts, kicking off energetically with seniors Kealy Bryman, Alessandra Hartwig*, Gaelen Booth, Emile Freeman, Kai Wenzel, Brady Phan, and Dane Hansen. Together, they performed “Valerie” by Amy Winehouse, followed by “Toxic” by Britney Spears.
Following next, seniors Milo Kroh and Nico Espinosa played intricate melodies, such as “Erhu” from Studio Ghibli and “Nobody Home” by Pink Floyd, on the violin and piano, bringing a delicate touch to the show. Then, seniors Elise Koo, Molly Gray, Ellie Dillon, Gabby Rothstein, Simran Patel, Mia Sanchez, Evie Filipek, Allie Orzechowski, Kelsey Gardner, Caroline Connaghan, and Kylie Winters performed “Upside Down” by Jack Johnson, contributing to an upbeat atmosphere.
For the remaining musical performances, senior Nina Tangilanu accompanied senior Anja Motuliki’s vocals for “If I Ain’t Got You” by Alicia Keys. Cole Johnstone played “Claire de Lune” by Claude Debussy on the piano, while Zach Quintana, Jack Bullard, and Cubby Derrough collaborated on “Bohemian Rhapsody” by Queen. Bryman, Hartwig, Booth, Freeman, Wenzel, Phan, and Hansen then returned to the stage for “Lean on Me” by Bill Withers. The mix of tunes and emotions inspired both happy and tranquil moments within the audience.
“From the people who went, it seemed to be worth going. A lot of musical talent was shown, and I think it’s great for people to put themselves out there,” senior Jasmine Johnson said.
Senior Farewell also promoted cultural identity and celebration. Members of the Pacific Islander Club, including seniors Tangilanu, Motuliki, Ape Ulukivaiola, Luisa Tava, Jocelyn Chang, and Suli Cendejas, brought a traditional Tongan dance to life with their graceful choreography.
After, senior Isaac Chuang played a last-minute performance of the moving “Concertino Op. 107 for Flute” by Cécile Chaminade. He reflected on how he was recruited to play on short notice. “I wasn’t actually supposed to perform. But I just went backstage while Dane Hansen was playing ‘Claire de Lune’ and asked Ms. [Kristen] Bryan, who said yes,” Chuang said. “I had 30 seconds to get everything ready, it was like a movie scene. But I’m glad I got the opportunity to play.”
“This night just reminded me how kind M-A teachers are,” he said. “Ms. Bryan did not have to let a gownless, last-minute senior wander backstage with a 30-second warning, but she did, so I will miss that. This also reminded me that school’s more fun if you let yourself be more ridiculous.”
The joyful occasion concluded on a relaxing and peaceful note with a performance of ASMR by seniors Sam Richman and Evie Filipek. “I enjoyed seeing the diversity in performances. From music, dancing, and even ASMR, it was really cool to be behind the scenes and just witness individuals showcase their talents,” the show’s tech manager, senior Crystal Winikoff, said.
Ultimately, the talent show proved to be a rewarding farewell that gave seniors the opportunity to showcase their four years of dedication and create lasting memories.
*Alessandra Hartwig is a journalist for the M-A Chronicle.
