A Night of Artistic Independence

This evening marked months of students' independent effort and creativity, as well as their dedication to their respective crafts, choreographing their own routines, arranging their own songs, and rehearsing entirely on their own time. “It gives students the opportunity to shine on their own terms,” said Corey Wexler, Performing Arts Department Chair. “We get to see them have agency over these performances and evolve from when we announced the show to the last day when they perform.” 

With creative control comes variety, and the pieces the students chose to perform could not have been more diverse. From Giselle R. ’29’s flute performance of Chaminade Concertino, Op. 107 and Mihira S. ’28 and Kate O. ’28’s contemporary dance number to “Hard Fought Hallelujah,” to Ellery R. ’28’s rendition of “Just for Now” on live audio looper, and Jessie and Chloe R. ’26’s piano and vocal duet of their own original song, to a multilayer performance of Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake both in dance and on violin by Sofia M. ’27, the breadth of talent was extraordinary. 

“We get to see an entirely different side of our performers at Cabaret,” explained Choir Director Kendall Renaud. “In large ensemble choral and dance performances, we see how students work as a member of a team, following a curriculum or overarching theme. Cabaret Night gives them the opportunity to take complete control of their performance and be center stage, singing the music they listen to or dancing to pieces they already know.”

Cabaret Night serves not only as an opportunity for our students to explore their abilities as performers, but as self-starters. While the students are offered support from their teachers, the responsibility of learning their piece, practicing it, and arriving at school ready to perform is ultimately on them. “It teaches them so much about what it's like to be a working artist,” reflected Ms. Wexler “You’re expected to work on your craft independently, with nobody checking in on you. Cabaret Night gives our students the opportunity to explore that sense of responsibility and ownership of their own art.”

As the curtains draw on another quarter of the 2025-2026 school year, our performing arts students stay constantly on the go as they prepare for major performances packed into Quarter 4. But as they practice tirelessly over their roles in the upcoming production of Hadestown, or prepare for ensemble dance routines in the Spring Concert, they reflect on the impeccable triumph of Cabaret Night this year and use it to inspire their performances to come.