By Feebee Mariposa

By Gilli Aquino

The sound of a finely tuned guitar, the rhythmic and dynamic beat of each drum, and the soothing tone of a voice that hits all the right notes — each of these pieces, heard through the halls of the senior high, completes the enrapturing puzzle of a perfect band performance. Whether it be during the grand opening of a long-awaited event or simply on a normal school day, in the ASHS you will find a wide variety of musicians who thrive under the harsh lights of the spotlight, with each performance leaving the student body breathless in anticipation for more. 

While the poise and captivating stage presence of these individuals appear almost picture-perfect — when these musicians finally depart from the stage they are once again transformed into the ordinary high school student. However, unlike the student-athletes who beam in the recognition of their grit — the spotlight fails to shine on the students behind each guitar string and drum beat. 

The First Few Beats

Within the ASHS exists a wide variety of student musicians who carry a deep passion for the art of music. While organizations such as the Music Industry Organization (MIO) and Symphonic Ensemble (SE) provide a space for these students to truly excel in their craft, many bands continually aim to pave their own path both in and out of the ASHS. 

A group that had just begun to carve its path in senior high is the band Just in Case — a cluster of juniors who came together by chance. Luis Sevilla, the vocalist and lead guitarist of the band, describes how there was instant chemistry between the members, even if the band was formed at the last minute — prompting the name Just In Case. Aside from Sevilla, the band consists of Mikhailia Ledres, Elbert Gamboa, Sam Sabat, and Josep Rafol.

“As a band, we aim to express authenticity,” Sevila states on the core values that the group aims to embody, “Every song we play really reflects how much we love music and how much we want to share our talents with the ASHS.” Behind each performance of Just in Case is a passion to not only have fun with a group of friends — but to uplift others with shows that are truly practiced and polished to the best of their abilities. 

While this band filled with bright-eyed juniors has just begun their journey as musicians within the ASHS, the band entitled Turnout has been playing in the hallowed halls of the senior high school for a little more than a year now. Consisting of four long-time friends, Raj, Cyril, Mio, and Gino — “Turnout” incorporates a message of glee in every show that they perform. 

According to the lead guitarist, Cyril Yap, “What matters to us whenever we perform is that we are all collectively able to feel that passion, joy, and raw energy that music gives us.” While the pressure to be perfect is often felt by any performer, Yap expresses that the group ultimately strives to find joy in all that they do in spite of any mistake.

While these two bands may play along different paths —- they are both rooted in a deep love for the art of music. Every strum, beat, and melody is an ode to every musician around the world who aims to reverberate their message until it echoes.

Tuning Back In 

Most would agree that a band is quite similar to a puzzle —- with each and every piece being equally integral to a beautiful picture. However, the complex pieces of a student-led band are a lot more complicated than the cohesive performances that are played on the stage. 

Behind the curtain is a group of students juggling the same responsibilities that the ordinary high school student often has to face. For both Turnout and Just In Case, the biggest challenge comes with finding a schedule that works for everyone. Each member possesses their own agendas and responsibilities that go beyond the band, making it difficult to plan rehearsals that adhere to every member’s schedule.

However, despite the fatigue of late-night practices and rehearsals after long days — that exhilarating feeling of a crowd chanting the songs so tirelessly practiced is enough for these musicians to pick back up that heavy guitar despite the callouses on each finger. 

For Just In Case, it is in performing that takes away the exhaustion and stress of their day-to-day lives. Sevilla expresses that, despite the added stress that comes with coordinating each practice session and upcoming gig, all of this tension proves worth it for each of the members due to their deep passion for the art of performing. Similarly, this satisfying sense of accomplishment is also what pushes Turnout to persevere in each of their musical efforts — with each hardship that they encounter only giving way to a stronger and better show. 

“For one, as cliché as it sounds, we do it for the love of music. Not just our love of music, but others’ as well,” details Yap on the driving force behind each exhausting rehearsal session. In line with their message of finding joy in all that you do, there is no better feeling for the group than watching the crowd smile, dance, and sing at each show that they perform. 

This love extends beyond one that is personal — for the band, it is a love to preserve the humanity of music in a world where generative AI is growing in popularity. In the words of Yap: “In our times, although we have forgotten the traditional art of writing letters and, in their words, organic encounter, we see the hidden beauty of, although corny, digital love, in the digital age; a sign of the times, however, love unchanging.”

These pieces — some bruised with callouses or sore throats — all work in tandem to conjure the beautiful melodies that we call music. While its complexities may be puzzling and at times exhausting, every dedicated effort gives way to a sound more alluring than any intricate puzzle. 

Rippling Echoes

Whether these groups have been playing for a while or have just begun to pave their path as musicians — there is a bright future ahead for these students who are driven by their commitment and passion to perform. 

Aside from their gigs for MIO programs or openings for events such as CSC week, Just In Case hopes to reach crowds beyond the senior high school with the goal to proudly represent Ateneo in the field of music. According to Sevilla, the MIO seniors have been a big help throughout their journey as a band. “Nothing beats the true experiences of our seniors, the MIO sessions have been truly helpful as they help us perform cleaner and emphasize our stage presence.” These passed down experiences have been truly valuable for the group, especially knowing that they will soon be the next generation of MIO seniors. 

As for our dear seniors, Turnout strives to live up to their musical idols with the hopes of one day making it to the big stage. Despite how long this journey may be, each member is wholeheartedly willing to take on the tumultuous challenge to achieve the dreams they have set for themselves.

However, while both of these bands continue to work towards their respective dreams —- at the end of the day, each of these individuals will always come back to the reason why they first began performing. Yap explains that no matter what, the goal of the band will always be to create a positive difference through every note and melody they create. “At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter if we have an audience of 100 or an audience of 100,000; if we’ve managed to make a positive difference for even just one person, then we’ve already fulfilled our core ambition as musicians.”

The sound of commitment, passion, and love once again echoes through the halls of the ASHS. Each piece is meant to uplift and touch crowds beyond the grounds of the senior high. Whether through performances at the FLC or maybe one day through shows on the big stage —- these musicians continue to thrive both under and behind the spotlight.