EAR Holds Fall Concert
After two hours chock-full of smoky cheers and piercing chants, hundreds of Exonians migrated from Phelps Stadium to Assembly Hall and sat down for the second part of Friday night’s pre-E/a festivities. From Guns & Roses to Bruno Mars, the night was filled with talented voices and melodic strums courtesy of Exeter Association of Rock (EAR), which served as the perfect post-pep rally dessert.
EAR is a student-run club that organizes several concerts each year. Each concert is open to the Exeter community, and all students are encouraged to sign up to perform. This particular concert featured many musicians that the student body had not heard perform before. Lower Emily Pellicia said, “I didn’t recognize most of the people that performed, and if I did, I didn’t know that they were so good at music.”
Each performance impressed the audience of excited Exonians. The crowd gave several standing ovations, even some to new performers. Prep Jack Stewart commented on his excitement to perform. “It really was exhilarating to perform in front of all my friends—this was the first time I had ever gotten up on a stage to sing a solo, and I had a blast,” Stewart said.
Lower Lucas Stevens, a member of the EAR, was really enthusiastic for new performers who took advantage of this EAR concert. “The musical atmosphere here at Exeter is incredibly positive and supportive,” Stevens said. “The number of standing ovations that the performers receive says it all.”
The crowd was especially lively because of the rowdy pep rally; all of the energy from the stadium carried over to the Assembly hall. “The crowd was extremely hyped from the pep rally, and it energized everyone on stage performing,” upper Kevin Elba said.
Support from the audience is key to the success of the EAR concerts throughout the year, and many performers commented on the incredible connection they felt toward the Exonian community through performing. Last Friday, the performers captivated the audience, who, in turn, praised them with loud applause, which made for a hit of a concert and a testament to how amazing EAR is.
EAR not only puts on entertaining shows, it allows students taking music lessons an opportunity to perform outside of formal in-houses and master classes. The concerts also allow students who don’t take lessons a chance for real performance time. Lower Maya Kim said, “I feel that everyone who is in EAR has your back and will help you, whether it’s by cheering or by playing with you on stage. It’s a really nice environment to be in.”
Lower Oren Stern, one of the two drummers in EAR, said, “While the music is important, the main goal is to have fun. If music isn’t enjoyable, there is no point to it at all. What’s great about EAR is that we all love what we do, that’s what makes it special.”
For all those who didn’t have the opportunity to perform at Friday’s concert, or for those who want to keep on performing, EAR has many concerts planned that will happen throughout the year. From the winter assembly concert to spring fling, opportunities are frequent and all are welcome—the diversity that the student body brings to music is what makes EAR such a successful club. “I think the wide range of music played is a reflection of the wide range of musical tastes that students around campus have,” lower Peter O’Keefe said. “We’re very lucky to have the opportunity to express ourselves through the platform of EAR.”