A live music performance brought students together in the quad as a band formed by a group of Carlmont students performed a set of popular songs, bringing live music and a relaxed atmosphere to campus.
The band covered popular songs, including “Isn’t She Lovely” by Stevie Wonder, “Japanese Denim” by Daniel Caesar, “Gravity” by John Mayer, and “Purple Rain” by Prince. Students stopped to watch as they recorded videos and listened as the band played in front of the Associated Student Body’s (ASB) classroom.
The band consisted of three students: Junior lead singer and guitarist Hayden Amurao, senior drummer Erick Cheng, and senior guitarist Seoha Kim. Cheng and Kim performed in the quad earlier in the year with a different singer, although this was Amurao’s first performance with the group.
“This was my first chance to get to play with the band and play for everybody,” Amurao said.
The band came together shortly before the performance, with Amurao joining recently to complete the band.
“We practiced a lot together, and I think our dynamic came together really well,” Amurao said.
Amurao enjoyed the crowd, especially the audience’s reaction during his guitar solo in their final cover, “Purple Rain,” which was the highlight of the performance for him.
According to sophomore and ASB member Kylie Gallagher, the event was organized to highlight student talent and create a more connected school environment.
“We thought it would be really cool to have music in the quad to bring students together,” Gallagher said.
According to Gallagher, ASB invited the band to perform after recognizing student interest in live music during lunch. She also said many students were excited to discover their classmates’ musical talents.
“The goal was to let students listen to their classmates’ talents as a lot of students didn’t even know their classmates were in bands,” Gallagher said.
Students throughout the quad gathered, with more students arriving after each song to applaud the band and watch them perform.
Sophomore Isabella Sequira was part of the audience during the performance. According to Sequira, the music created a calm and welcoming atmosphere during lunch.
“I really enjoyed the music today. I think the band did a very good job, and the music was very soothing,” Sequira said.
Many students surrounded the band to enjoy the performance and film.
“Everyone was watching them, and my friends really liked how calming the music was,” Sequira said.
Performances like the quad concert help strengthen the school community by encouraging students to support others’ talents, according to Gallagher. The lunchtime performance also transformed the quad into a lively concert space, giving students a break from academic stress while showcasing the musical talent present on campus.
The positive response from students may lead to more performances in the future, as the band hopes to continue playing together later in the school year.
