By Gaby Maldonado
WHITE PLAINS - On Oct. 28 and 29, The Little Theater welcomed the Songwriters Club as they returned to the stage with their first cover showcase of the year. From country to R&B, rap to pop, the musicians delivered memorable performances. The two-night event was a testament to the club's passion for music, displaying their talent and hard work.
The Songwriters Club, a collaborative group of dynamic performers, has become a cherished part of the school’s community. Committed to creating and sharing music, these students have made a name for themselves with their unique sound.
“It is actually a very fun experience. I’m glad there’s a lot of new people here this year; it’s going to be great to work with them,” said committee member Matt Welling.
The showcase opened with Jonah Kovach’s arrangement of “Can’t Stop” by the Red-Hot Chili Peppers with Lauren Garcia, Christian Sese, and Jorge Espinoza. The combination of Lauren's powerful voice, Christian's impressive guitar solo, Jorge's skillful bass playing, and Jonah's energetic drumming made the rock song the perfect piece to kick off the night.
Saul Leon performed “See You Again” by Tyler, the Creator with Victoria Alcalde, Chris Choi, Jonah Kovach, Angela Bediako, Nick Bucaj, and Bryan Guedes. Saul’s energetic stage presence shined as he began rapping and dancing on stage, and Victoria’s melodious voice had the audience singing along in harmony.
Furthermore, Sabrina Mondschein sang “Girl in the Mirror” by Megan Moroney with Matt Welling on the cajon. The heartfelt performance resonated deeply with the song's touching melody.
“I chose this song because I think it is extremely prevalent to kids in high school, especially girls. This song is a reminder that you have to love yourself first before you can love another person, and to put yourself first always. I hope that the audience understood the meaning of the song, while also appreciating the pure beauty of the lyrics and chords,” said Sabrina.
More acts hit the stage during the second act including Brian Guedes’ version of “Enter Sandman” by Metallica with Zoey Tutein, Nick Bucaj, Frankie Flora, and Evan Schwartz. The audience was thrilled by their high-energy performance and their dynamic rendition of the iconic rock song.
Benny Rosas on the harp, Mallerly Moreno on vocals, and Frankie Flora on keys delivered an enchanting performance of Billie Eilish's "What Was I Made For?" from Barbie.
"Billie Eilish has very frequently in the past reflected a lot of my inner thoughts, and I feel like for a lot of other people's inner thoughts, as much as they don't want to say it. There were a lot of upbeat songs, so just to bring it down a little bit and give a little ballad with the harp was nice."
Mr. Boykin's performance of Sam Cooke's "Having A Party" alongside the ensemble of Mallerly Moreno, Evan Schwartz, Arin Dean, and Christian Sese, was a truly memorable moment. As a seasoned jazz singer and pianist who had graced the Jazz Fest that was held this year, Mr. Boykin showcased his talent. Everyone in the room sang and snapped along, creating an atmosphere of pure joy and celebration.
The showcase ended off strong with Noah Walters and Marco Sese hitting the stage to perform “3005” by Childish Gambino with Christian Sese, Matt Welling, and Evan Schwartz. The audience couldn't resist singing along to the catchy lyrics, which had them up on their feet and dancing together with great enthusiasm.
The Songwriters Club will host more events throughout the school year, including an original showcase where students will write and share their own songs; you won’t want to miss it!