Coffeehouse XXXIX engages crowd with acoustic music, poetry
December 11, 2015
Coffeehouse XXXIX (39) took place in the cafeteria on Dec. 3.
Coffeehouse is an event run by the high school’s literary magazine Mobius and is an event for students to perform acoustic music and read poetry. 12th grade English teacher Ms. Patricia Mahoney started Coffeehouse and has been the adviser of Mobius since 1993.
“When I first became aware of Mobius, there was no Coffeehouse,” Mahoney said “One editor in particular, 20 years ago, had been to a Coffehouse in Ridgewood and she wanted to see if we could do it here, so we put the first one together and it was a tremendous success!”
Since the first Coffeehouse, there has been two Coffeehouses every year making this the 39th Coffeehouse, and the 40th Coffeehouse will proceed it later this year.
This season’s Coffeehouse was hosted by seniors Mike Zilvetti, Justin McCollum, Harrison Gale and junior Matt Lacognata. A number of student acts came out to play music and read original poetry including Coffeehouse regulars Erik Vreedenburgh, Aaron Halpert Rodis, and Harrison Gale, Justin McCollum, Anna Barton as well as the high school’s very own Ms. Laura Allen.
Senior big band playing “Just Like Heaven.” Members from right to left: Marino Aldaz, Mike Zilvetti, Zach McCollum, Darby Major, Anna Barton, Dan McAuley, Jack Weathers, Adam Donatuccio, Liam Geduldig, Justin McCollum.
As usual there was a huge senior band who performed last consisting of Darby Major, Anna Barton, and Mike Zilvetti on vocals, Adam Donatuccio, Justin McCollum, and Dan McAuley on guitars, Marino Aldaz on bass, Jack Weathers on piano, Liam Geduldig on synthesizer, and Zach McCollum on drums. The band played a mainstay among many seniors, The Cure’s “Just Like Heaven.”
“I think we did a pretty good job,” Adam Donatuccio (‘16) said “There have been others that have been really good from other years but overall I think we did a pretty good job.”
“The instrumentals were spot on,” said Anna Barton (‘16) “I think we really lived up to past senior big bands!”
In past years we had senior bands put on really big performances, specifically Patrick Stickles and other members from Titus Andronicus like Liam Betson
— Ms. Patricia Mahoney
Speaking of previous big bands, Mahoney recalled past high school students from the acclaimed Glen Rock band Titus Andronicus performing in similar sized bands consisting of all seniors.
“In past years we had senior bands put on really big performances, specifically Patrick Stickles and other members from Titus Andronicus like Liam Betson,” Mahoney said.
Andrew Coll, junior, played his guitar and sang “Exit Music” by Radiohead. Coll has been performing at the Coffeehouse programs since he was a freshman. Last year, Coll and Justin McCollum sang “Dendrown” by The Hotelier.
“It’s fun, it’s exhilarating, it’s kind of addictive,” Koll said.
The event not only provided breath taking music and poetry performance, but also provided students concessions such as cookies, brownies, and of course coffee. Starbucks provides the coffee for the Coffeehouse every year, and the tank always seems to be consumed before the night ends.
The event began with an anti-smoking skit that was approximately one minute long. Then, Katlyn Arcede sang “Kiss Me” by Sixpence None the Richer.
The tickets for Coffeehouse were 5 dollars each and sales went back into the school’s activities fund.
The event was a smashing success bringing out students, parents, and facility to watch students perform both familiar and less popular pieces alike.
