Students shine at Apollo Night
February 25, 2018
Curtains opened Thursday night to 16 performers with no shortage of unique talents—from rapping and filmmaking to whistling—to exhibit on stage in the Diamond Bar High School theater.
Presented by the Black Student Union, this year’s Apollo Night was hosted by seniors Mark Parent and Amelia Anijielo. Anijielo transitioned the audience into each upcoming act with comedic skits that included everything from ripping off her false weave to beatboxing, while Parent lampooned her antics.
The night opened with an electric guitar performance by Commercial Music, which strummed its strings at center stage. Next entered senior Andrea Moran, tap dancing her routine with a smile of confidence.
Seniors Sophia Kim and Fayleen Ho performed their rendition of Ed Sheeran’s “Shape of You.” Kim rapped self-written verses while Ho interjected with powerful vocals. Cheers erupted when Kim walked offstage and through the seating aisles during part of their performance, as heads turned to follow her.
The only duet dance performance of the event, juniors Christine Heman and Katherine Tran shared the spotlight in a contemporary dance piece, performed to Isak Danielson’s “Ending.”
Solo singers of the night included seniors Haley Malan, who performed “Jealous” by Labrinth with an acoustic guitar, and Meg Apino, who sang her slow ballad bathed in soft purple light. Senior Sophia O’Barr greeted the audience before performing her gentle piece, “Hollow” by Tori Kelly, and freshman Allison Santogrossi sung Etta James’ “At Last.”
In addition to live performances, Brahmas and parents in the audience also viewed two film productions. DBHS Video Production told the story of an academically struggling student, played by senior Devon Johnson, who found help in a tutor-turned-friend, the two finding themselves in a mutually beneficial relationship as they each traded skills the other lacked.
Senior Marisa Umeh’s video featured founder of FemStem robotics senior Zaina Siyed, and followed the Muslim girls’ robotics team’s journey to success from the beginning.
Presenting a more unusual talent, senior Luke Teerling stunned the audience with a whistling performance set to “The Phantom of the Opera,” generating cheers from the audience.
The last dancing group of the night, DBHS Indian Culture Club, exhibited the vibrant customs of the culture through their coordinated movements.
Class of 2017 alumni Jaden Campbell then returned to the DBHS stage to rap to the audience, before the show closed out with a solo performance by senior Hampton Douglass on the marimba.
