Audio engineering teacher Andrew Hoeflein’s attempts to respark lunch concerts have remained unsuccessful. Concerts were a prominent highlight of lunch time last year, allowing students to enjoy music during meal time while also highlighting performers right here at school. These concerts would take place on floor zero near the community partner space, providing entertainment for students sitting on the social stairs. The space can be described as bustling with students chatting with friends and enjoying lunch. With the natural audience, the stage remains a comfortable open space for performers.

Mae McGee-Cruser, a junior and member of Jazz band, describes lunch concerts as uplifting. 

“I think it’s awesome bringing music into the community. It was really uplifting to hear music in a space like the public commons of a high school where it doesn’t usually happen,” McGee-Cruser explained. 

The jazz band has previously taken the lunch concert stage. While performing, they also showcase the talents of the band department. 

This year, the success of lunch concerts has changed. “We’ve really been trying to connect with more artists to perform,” Hoeflein explained. 

In the past, lunch concerts have served as an opportunity to not only bring music to the school but to give a spotlight to smaller artists. Hoeflein describes the karaoke club as an opportunity to find more performers. 

The club meets in Hoeflein’s classroom–room 113–every other Friday, and it serves as a space for members to perform songs with a smaller audience. Hoeflein hopes the club will help draw more individuals interested in performance to the lunch concert stage. The karaoke club is full of giggles and energetic performances. Club members use microphones, usually used for classwork to instead belt to their favorite songs.  

Senior and karaoke club member Viva Pedegana describes karaoke club as a welcoming space for attendees to jam out to familiar tunes. 

“It’s really just a big group of friends,” Pedegana explained. 

Although lunch concerts have struggled to respark this year, Hoeflein still remains optimistic. 

“We have a lot in plan for the next few months,” Hoeflein explained. 

Sophomore Olive Jelinski is a self-proclaimed “concert fanatic” and hopes the concerts continue. 

“I’ve heard of them, but I wish I knew what genres they were, I want to hear more though,” Jelinski said. 

The concerts have been primarily advertised on social media and through word of mouth. With student interest increasing, lunch concerts have optimistic plans for revival.

Hoeflein and his audio engineering class have more concerts in plan for the year. If you are interested in performing, contact Hoeflein at [email protected] .