Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and life to everything. — Plato
The lull of the evening falls upon the campus, and as the sky darkens, the small strung up lights on the stage illuminate an unforgettable event.
An event with friends, food and music; music that soothes the soul and calms the mind.
Music that lightens the heart, and makes you sway.
Music that you bob your head to, and makes you jump enthusiastically.
All kinds of rhythms. All kinds of instruments and voices.
And most of all, so much liveliness.
Wondering what we’re talking about?
It’s the Monsoon Musical at DLRC, of course.
G11 students Daisy Jain and Agneya Joshi performing a soulful song
On Friday, the 20th of September, our school amphitheatre was filled with lights, cheers and the sweet melodies of all the songs that were played by the performers. This event was organised by three high school students — Evan Fernandes, Garv Salgia and Sifar Jirgale (G11).
Thanks to them, the evening was a huge hit that showcased not only the talent that the students in DLRC possess but also the dedication and teamwork it took to organise this show.
Additionally, volunteers (from Grades 9 and 11) participated in setting up and decorating the stage, managing the lighting, crowd, and anchoring.
A special shoutout to the sound and tech volunteers who managed the entire sound system and fixed all the technical problems in a jiff, so that the event could go on as smoothly as possible. “The volunteers were on their toes the whole time, they were helping with everything and making adjustments with every setback,” said Garv.
Anchors Mihit Mundada and Anushka Saxena keeping the audience entertained
The selection process was simple, with online and in person auditions, and the organisers (Garv, Sifar and Evan) chose who would perform on the big day. They wanted new people to perform, and encouraged everyone to take part.
Furthermore, they wanted to make the platform accessible, easy for everyone and less stressful for those with stage fright.
All the performers did exceptionally well, especially given the short amount of preparation time that some of them had. There was a myriad of music, from Hindustani Classical to some amazing Rock performances – vocals and instrumentals – and our performers explored almost every genre on the spectrum of music. The bands had high energy and passion which reflected on the audience as well.
Music facilitators Radhika Kulkarni and Kuldeep Rawal showcasing their talents
But as it is with all events, the Monsoon Musical also had its challenges. Evan described their biggest challenge being organisation and time management although the team handled the hiccups quite well. There was also the issue of coordinating with all the facilitators and students involved. The technical difficulties were managed gracefully. Notwithstanding the pressure of organising an event as big as this and the minor setbacks, the team had a great time.
The highlight of the evening for most of us, and for the organisers, was the final performance. In Sifar’s words, “That was the climax, where the level of excitement was the highest. The lights were off, torchlights lit up the place and the overall atmosphere was amazing. Sharing our passion for music with the audience and just witnessing their enthusiasm was very special!”
“For me, performing in front of this crowd was surreal. I looked up and everybody was jumping and singing and clapping and we were doing an encore ‘cause they asked for it. I would never have imagined that!” added Garv.
The final performance was by the band Respectful Free Speech that performed “Everybody Wants To Rule The World” by Tears For Fears and “Summer of ‘69” by Bryan Adams.
It was truly such a vibe, with all of the audience dancing and singing along, waving their torchlights in the air, and the band members giving it their all. And just like that, the Monsoon Musical ended on a wonderfully high note.
Facilitator Aman Kaushik joining the performance
By Sharanya Rao, Hita Maniar and Vanshika Tikekar (G11)
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