Exeter Association of Rock
After pep rally, the cheering of sports teams turned into the clapping for musicians at the annual EAR concert, held this past Friday. Students poured into the Assembly Hall to hear the talented artists of the Exeter community. The second half of the pre-E/a festivities showcased members of the Exeter Association of Rock (EAR), who held their second concert of the school year. Students of all grades took the stage as they shared songs from artists such as the Eagles and Maroon 5.
As a student-run club with concerts open to the Exeter community, EAR encourages students to cast off any insecurities and perform confidently on stage. This year’s EAR concert featured many well known songs such as the Eagles’ “Hotel California,” and Ed Sheeran’s “Don’t.” Impressed by the performances, the crowd gave multiple standing ovations to all students. Lower Hanna Pak, a member of the EAR, commented on how involved the audience was and how excited she was to perform. “I honestly loved the atmosphere of the concert so much. It was just a bunch of people who love music playing and jamming out to songs and appreciating everyone’s talent," Pak said.
Pak’s group had been working on “Hotel California” throughout the term and found it to be a great way to not only build spirit but to celebrate the musical accomplishments of Exonians. Support from the audience was key to the success of the EAR concert. Many performers commented felt connected with the audience when performing on stage, especially because the crowd was hyped from pep rally. Lower Tobias Abelmann, a returning member of the EAR, was excited to take the stage again. “It’s a blast to get up and play for part of the school,” Abelmann said.
“It’s a blast to get up and play for part of the school.”
The crowd’s enthusiastic response was a testament to the performers' talent, and effort while preparing for the concert. “Since I was doing a lot of songs, I would spend three to four hours on the last two Sundays playing with groups. But it was always fun; everyone loves playing their instrument so we have a good time,” Abelmann said. Pak agreed, sharing that her band Stepping Stones met every Sunday morning to rehearse their songs. All the hard work paid off, excited Exonians rose to cheer for their fellow musicians.
Along with the audience, the concert served as a very special experience for its performers as well. It provided students with the opportunity to debut their self-composed songs. Prep Pepper Pieroni has been working on a music project labeled “Sometimes” for a little over a year and was very excited to share it with the community. “I really love to perform, and that EAR concert was a pretty special one because of my album release,” Pieroni said. Senior Matilde Liboni performed an original song with piano accompany inspired by her personal life experience. Her performance left many students in awe. Students such as lower Eugene Hu approached Matilde later that night to tell her how moved he was by her piece.
For a frigid November night, the engaging performances and festive vibes warmed the campus with a vigorous spirit, preparing athletes and spectators alike for a thrilling game of sporting events ahead.