Standing-ovations followed emotional tributes performed by members of the Andover community, who showcased their wide variety of talents during this week’s All-School Meeting (ASM). The Chapel roared with laughter as the series of student and teacher acts, dances and musical performances entertained the audience for one of the last ASMs of the year.
Two performances that stood out to the audience the most were the performance of Adrian Khactu, Instructor in English, singing “And I Am Telling You I’m Not Going” as a way to say goodbye to Andover students before he leaves for another job next year, as well as the faculty dance group Ma’am Slam, according to audience member Anna Maniaci ’19.
“My favorite act was [Ma’am Slam] dancing to the Bruno Mars song 24k Magic or [Mr. Khactu] singing his farewell song. Overall, [it was a] really upbeat and happy ASM. I thought [the ASM] was great. It was nice being able to see some of the musically talented students we have at this school,” Maniaci.
Another major performance at ASM was the band The Brett Sextet, consisting of Brett Sawka ’17, Louis Aaron ’18, Blake Campbell ’18, Trevor Lazar ’17, James Jusuf ’17, OJ Wigwe ’17, Preston Dial ’17, Shu Sakamoto ’17, and Jacob Peffer ’17. Playing as Andover’s house band, they performed at the beginning and end of ASM, as well as a mashup of music during the show.
“So this year it turned out that there was only one talent show for faculty and students and they asked us to be the house band. It’s a lot of fun… I think it’s great for the students to be exposed to new things but it’s also [that] they get to see their classmates do what they’re good at,” said Louis Aaron ’18.
The several musical performances included a bagpipe and organ duet performed by Abbey Siegfried and Kassie Archambault, who played the organ and bagpipes respectively. This was followed by a performance of Vivaldi’s Concerto for Mandolin and Orchestra Movement 1 by Peter Lorenco and Isaac Hershenson ’20, and singing performances featuring Jack Twomey ’17 (piano) and Emma Chatson ’18 performing “A Million Reasons,” and “Love Yourself” by Terrell Ivory, Assistant Director of Admissions, with Emma Kelley ’17 and the other members of the boys and girls varsity basketball teams.
Aaron believes that the student-faculty ASM was a success. “Having faculty at all [in a talent show] is so awesome because they’re so funny. I think the faculty part – having them for at least one of the shows is a fun way to end the year,” says Aaron.
The ASM was concluded by the Academy Chorus singing “My Shot” from the musical Hamilton, featuring solos from Jason O’Dwyer ’18, McKenna Marshall ’18, Adaeze Izuegbunam ’20, Grace Anthony ’17, Henry Crater ’20, Sarah Langr ’18, and Melina Powell ’20.
