The highly-anticipated Legends Concert, hosted by the UHS Choir on Feb. 1 and 2, provided a platform for students to display their musical prowess while paying homage to their favorite legends. The concert, which featured covers of popular songs performed with skillful impersonations, captivated the audience with its creativity and passion.
This concert allowed the performers to choose their musical legend and song. This approach introduced lots of creativity and allowed the performers to choose someone they were truly passionate about. Senior Rowan Olson, who covered “Running Up the Hill” by Kate Bush, chose her musical legend for several reasons.
“I love Kate Bush and was introduced to her by my mom, who has always been a fan,” Olson said. “I love her singing style and the emotion that she presents and that’s really what motivated me to choose her as my legend.”
In addition to featuring students from the Vocal Music Department, the concert also included some teachers from the school. Math teacher Eric Shulman, who impersonated Neil Diamond in “Sweet Caroline,” decided to perform alongside the students to support them and the concert.
“I like to support the arts in the school and if I was responsible for bringing a couple more kids out, then it was worth it, ” Mr. Shulman said. “The idea is to get more kids to watch the students do this, [and] there is some huge talent there that not enough people see.”
The performers successfully entertained the audience by replicating the specific style of the musical legend and performing songs that the audience enjoyed.
“I was looking for an audience participation type of song since I knew I couldn’t compete with the vocals category,” Mr. Shulman said. “I thought I could do a fun song and get everybody involved and [“Sweet Caroline”] fit the bill.”
Beyond entertainment, the concert provided valuable growth opportunities for the performers. Performing in front of a large live audience allowed these students to leave their comfort zone and build on their performance abilities.
“I’ve never performed a solo in a setting like that, so the experience was nerve-wracking but incredible,” Olson said. “Singing with a live band was amazing too and I feel like the overall experience gave me a greater sense of confidence as a performer and a renewed love for singing.”
Ultimately, the Legends Concert offered a unique and memorable experience for both performers and the audience, celebrating passion, creativity and talent. Through their performances, students explored their musical passions, honed their skills and left a lasting impression on all who attended.
