The guitar club strums out a Malcolm Todd song. For several of the guitarists, Catchella was their first time performing in front of a crowd.

Senior Theo Hanson, member of Jazz ensemble, serenades the audience with his trombone solo. During their performance Dr. Helgerman acknowledged other senior musicians, including Alice Bradley and Vijay Kannan.

Music teacher Michael Helgerman conducts the Jazz Ensemble. The acoustics in the cafeteria allowed for the music to resonate, with extra help from speakers. “My original idea was to have them [Jazz Ensemble] travel to a jazz club,” Dr. Helgerman said. “As I reached out I realized that those places were booked really far in advance and it seemed a little impersonal.”

The Simmers perform two Radiohead songs, using a drum set provided by the school and different amps for their guitars. Most of the instruments used during the performance, like their guitars, were brought from home.

Seniors Clifford Hubbard and Yibela Gebretsadik, junior Kylee Solt-Linville and sophomore Hayley Mulema take the stage for an intricately-choreographed performance. The singers set the crowd on fire, eliciting constant cheering and applause.

Sophomores Ganda Nantulya and Isa sing “Best Part,” by H.E.R and Daniel Caesar with senior Mattea Smith on the guitar. “It was so much fun, I had so much fun performing,” Nantulya said.

Zaay, a band with two students from WJ and the rest from Churchill, take the stage for their first-ever performance. “It was really cool,” a band member said, “It was really good for our first performance.”

The audience watches intently as senior Vijay Kannan is introduced for his cello solo. For this event, most supporters who came were family and friends of those who are in the music department. “We’re hoping to grow [Catchella] incrementally because this event is about our community first and foremost,” Dr. Helgerman said. “With that in mind, that community does include our friends, people who will be in our programs in future years. It will also include alumni.”

Saxophone players, including senior Alice Bradley, perform a very saxaphone-heavy song. Before the song, Dr. Helgerman acknowledged Bradley and her musical skills, as she plays numerous instruments.

Senior Clifford Hubbard runs into the audience, continuing to belt into a karaoke microphone. Hubbard and his fellow performers took a loop around the cafeteria, eliciting claps and cheers as they went, before returning to the stage.