![Standing center stage, senior Ananya Akula conducts the Phoenix Chorale. “[Conducting and teaching] is really fun,” Akula said. “Music education is what I want to do.” On the day of the choir assessment, Akula found out that she received the President’s Music Scholarship – a full ride to the University of Miami Frost School of Music.](https://theblazerrhs.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/ananya-1200x800.jpg)
![With the energy and effort the Bolts were bringing to the game, the Phoenix had to step up and match them to make it through their first game of the season. Many of the girls on the team, including freshman Nazly Rostom, have been playing soccer since their childhood and have grown a love for the sport as a result. “It was fun to see how we actually played in a [real] game,” Rostom said. “Even though the outcome was not what we were hoping for, I’m still happy we got to play together.”](https://theblazerrhs.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/DSC_0154-1200x800.jpg)
![Held up by a group of cheerleaders, flyer sophomore Leyu Yonas poses as part of a stunt, also supported by flyer junior Shayne Mitchell behind her. (Left) Prior to the pink out football game on Oct. 13, the athletes practiced in the aux gym from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. (Right) On Oct. 19, the cheerleaders competed in their District Championships at Woodgrove High School. “We definitely put all our effort on the mat [at Districts], and it showed,” Mitchell said. Left: Photo by Nadia Shirr. Right: Photo by Steve Prakope via Victor O’Neill Studios.](https://theblazerrhs.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/feature-image-1200x823.png)
![Sophomore Xavier Smith (6), the Phoenix quarterback, runs the ball as his teammates help hold up the defense. “My [offensive] line collapses, so I just [have to run], and its a good way to get first downs because [Tuscarora’s] defense was really good,” Smith said.](https://theblazerrhs.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/IMG_5383-1200x897.jpg)
![As the referee throws the ball up for the tip-off, freshman Simone Diby leaps towards the ball to get it in Phoenix possession. Diby is a new member of the Phoenix girls basketball team, and despite it being a change, she finds it enjoyable. “It’s definitely a different experience if you’ve never played on a team, [but] I think it’s still fun.”](https://theblazerrhs.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/DSC_0057-1200x662.jpg)
Annual Winter Guitar Concert Unifies School Clusters
The Rock Ridge High School and Stone Hill Middle School guitar departments collaborate to put on a show-stopping winter concert performance while continuing the winter guitar concert tradition in a unifying way.
During Stone Hill’s performance, director and guitar teacher Matthew Dunlap conducts the middle school ensemble.
February 5, 2022
On Dec. 16, Rock Ridge High School guitar collaborated with Stone Hill Middle School to put on a successful winter concert directed by guitar teacher Matthew Dunlap and orchestra and guitar teacher Teresa Gordon.
Over 115 seventh and eighth graders from Stone Hill Middle School traveled to Rock Ridge High School in order to perform in the first half of the winter concert. The middle school performances were separated into two levels, with each level performing different pieces. Before the middle school performances began, Rock Ridge guitar players from the artist guitar class stepped up to assist the younger performers in tuning their instruments.
Both the middle and high school guitar departments have put in hard work and dedication in preparation for their winter performance. “I’ve been practicing for months now,” Senior Tamia Styles said. “I enjoy listening to music, creating music, and being able to make whatever I want.”
The guitar winter concert featured 13 different songs. Highlights from the guitar performance included “Izika Zumba,” a traditional South African Folk Song, and a “Holiday Surprise” that was performed by the artist guitar class as the finale of the winter concert.
Senior Matthew Farley, who has been playing for six years, looked forward to playing the song “Images” by David Adelle during the guitar concert. “It is a very interesting piece and I think the audience will like it,” Farley said. “The piece is in 7/4 [time signature] and you get to hit the guitar like a bongo and I get to play contrabass. It’s also got a bunch of cool base lines.” Contrabass is the lowest-voiced instrument in a family.
Other guitar performers also admired the unity displayed through this concert between the different guitar communities. “My favorite part of playing guitar is working as a group and seeing all the music come together,” sophomore Anya Meredith said. “I work well with people and I’m always willing to try something new.”
Directors Dunlap and Gordon enjoyed seeing their hard work ultimately pay off in this performance. “The concert was great,” Dunlap said, “I just love music.”
Not only was the annual guitar winter concert a huge success, but it also gave guitar students of all levels a chance to come together as a community and take part in this festive tradition. “I think that the annual guitar winter concert is something a lot of the guitar performers look forward to,” junior Nina Lal said. “This experience was unifying and was like a big step into the new year.”
