There are opportunities for all students, of any experience level, to get involved in the music culture at Tabor through the wide range of musical groups, clubs, and activities offered on campus. During my freshman year, music was what gave me the opportunity to put myself out there in a new environment, and over the course of my four years, I have experienced what it truly means to be a part of a community.
My first time performing in front of a Tabor audience was at an open mic night, an event held once a month. This event is my favorite weekend activity and is one I never miss. The space is filled with a comforting group, where our motto is to be supportive and to have fun. It is never a competition, there are no sign ups, no set order, and anyone is welcome to perform. The performances range from solo singers to trumpet players to guitar duets. Along with students, our head master, Mr. Quirk, as well as other faculty members perform at these events, bringing the community together as one. Whether you are tapping your foot along to your classmates singing the Fresh Prince of Bel Air theme song, listening to a new freshman blow the audience away, or are singing along with the entire room to a 2000s hit, you are guaranteed to have a great time at an open mic night. Students are encouraging of one another and performers of any experience level are given a relaxed space to share their talents.
Along with events such as open mic nights, there are also ways to get involved in the music culture during the academic school day. As a member of the Madrigal Singers, one of the six choral ensembles at Tabor, we are lucky enough to meet four out of the seven-day rotation, just as much as any other academic class. We perform at school events as well as larger concerts held in the Winter and Spring. In December, we perform in the annual Festival of Lessons and Carols, a beautiful service open to the school and the public. I have also been involved in the female a capella group, known as the Nightingales, which meets once a week after school. Choral conductor, David Horne, as well as the students in our group compose versions of songs and work together to find the right blends. I find myself learning something new every day with these groups.
For the past two fall semesters, my after school activity has been Applied Music. This gave me the opportunity to spend over an hour every day to work on my music. I was able to use this time each day to work on writing original songs. During this program, I also got involved in collaborating with three other students, Nicholas Marshall (guitar and cajon), Lydia Mead (guitar), and Harrison Judd (guitar), eventually forming a band. We prepared and performed two pieces for the required recital: Axl Rose’s Sweet Child O’ Mine and Tracy Chapman’s Fast Car. Even now that the trimester is over, we are planning on continuing with the band on our own time and hope to perform again in the future. We are also hoping to incorporate a few students from Tabor’s incredible string ensemble.
Tabor’s music culture is one of the greatest ways to get involved in the community and discover more about yourself and others around you. I encourage everyone to try something new: get out to an open mic night or even start a band. When you surround yourself with music at Tabor Academy, you are guaranteed to make memories that will last forever.
