Mills Music recently sang, played, and rocked their hearts out at their seventh annual Groove-a-Thon on Friday, Oct. 7. The event featured 60 performances, with acts varying from vocal solos to jazz bands to flute ensembles.
The Groove-a-Thon differs from typical Mills Music concerts in that it consists of several small student-led groups, as opposed to one large ensemble. Mills’ beloved music teacher, David Gregoric, explains the purpose of the Groove-a-Thon. “[It’s] fundamentally a fundraiser, but it’s also a showcase for small groups and individual talent.” Hence, the event supports the music department while also giving students the opportunity to display their talents and have fun performing.
Prior to the concert, music students prepared tirelessly for their performances, with some students in as many as 10 acts or more. The music room is continuously occupied by groups of students rehearsing for their productions or testing out equipment.
Percussionist Jovian Cheung (12) describes the performers’ feelings leading up to the show. “Groove-a-Thon is always a stressful time of year for sure, but I think it’ll be really fun.”
Their hard work paid off on performance night, where they donned various concert attire and took the stage, filling the Mills Center Court with music. The festivities ran late into the night, finally coming to a close at around 9:30 p.m.
Playing at Groove-a-Thon is both exciting and nerve-wracking. Freshman and jazz pianist Alessio Bettuchi says, “It’s very scary, but when you go onstage, the nerves go away and you’re having fun.”
Cellist Kayli Tsang (12) talks about the impact performing has for her. “It’s really inspiring and motivational to play for the entire school,” she says.
Gregoric describes the proud moments he had watching students perform. “I enjoy the triumphs that some of the kids get, you know, conquering fear and getting to understand that they can really do things that they thought they could never do.”
Beyond performances like the Groove-a-Thon, the music community plays an important role in the lives of many Mills musicians, both as a place to gain support and constructive criticism, but also as a group of friends.
“The music community is just so inviting and really fun to be a part of,” Tsang says. She adds, “Before Mills, I was not in a big group, so it was really solo cello, but [being in the Mills orchestra] allowed me to see the big community and the importance of that community, which is just someone having your back, someone always being there for you.”
Cheung explains, “We’re all different instruments, so we have different personalities, and it’s really nice to mix and become friends with everybody. It’s like a big family.”
