Songwriters Club is one of the most well-known clubs at White Plains High School. An electrifyingly novel concept, English teacher Dennis Polanco founded Songwriters almost 26 years ago, and the club continues to grow and expand each year.
Most agree that performing is difficult, and performing a song that you’ve written is an even more harrowing yet deeply rewarding experience. It requires vulnerability and openness with the audience and offers onlookers a glimpse into something deeper and more profound than just musical abilities. At this year’s Winter Original Showcase, a new generation of freshmen took to the stage, guided by seasoned committee members and club advisor Mr. Polanco.
The lineup excelled and gave spectators a glimpse into the performers’ minds and hearts.
Saul Leon Huerta, a senior and Songwriters committee member, opened the show with his song, “Watch It,” about the chaos, grit and never-ending climb to success that adolescents transitioning into adulthood face.
“The First Time,” by committee member Sabrina Bonelli, “The Adolescent Dream,” by Leila Rodgers, “It’s Gonna be Okay,” by Esperanza Cylich-Schneider and “It’s Good to Know,” by Angel Alvarez and Amelia Camacho remind you that all you need to create a musical sensation is a microphone, an acoustic guitar and melodies that make themselves at home in your eardrums.
River Griffin’s “Mountain of Papers,” a song about the overwhelming nature of school, and Abraham Beals’s “Gossamer,” a melancholic song about the passing of time, are akin to poetry on paper. Enticingly original, their unique sounds offered depth to the showcase.
Leah Corpus’s “For You” mesmerized the entire audience with its musical simplicity and emotional depth, and committee member Mila Tomlin’s “Traffic” used metaphor to offer a glimpse into a struggling relationship.
Isabella Urbano Beltran’s “Him” recounts a heartwarming love story. Her smooth vocals remind listeners of butter and pair together beautifully with the uplifting sounds of violin.
Estella Slagle tells the audience the history of an age-old house and those who lived inside it in, “Sally’s House.”
Of course, Mr. Polanco’s song, “The Let Down,” which is currently available on all major music streaming platforms, did not disappoint. Full of clever lyricism, intricate guitar runs and time signature changes, Mr. Polanco crafted a dynamic, catchy piece that gets stuck in your head.
Committee member Angela Bediako’s song, “Too Easily,” with Nick Bucaj, Dominic Flora, Stella Khachetoorian and Sabrina Bonelli embodied the feeling of falling head over heels for someone you barely know.
Joshua Kase’s song (cowritten by Alexa Leclere and Zoe Cruz), “In My Mind” was pure rock and roll. Evelyn Livingston, Sarah Fabrizio, Zoe Cruz, Dominic Flora and, of course, Kase, dazzled the audience with their charisma and showmanship.
Another staple of the Songwriter’s Original Showcases are the bands. Newly formed Calypso is composed of Mackenzie Mercer, Zoe Cruz, Vivienne Mittenzwei, Rebecca Marcotullio and Adele Haimowitz. They performed their debut single, “Shattered,” a punk-infused rock anthem full of spectacular guitar runs and magnetic vocals.
Sabrina Blum, Alexa DioGuardi and Naia Gopoian make up Songwriters’ more senior band, Out of Order. Their song was called, “Limerence,” referring to a state of involuntary obsessive romantic interest in another human being. A darkly foreboding yet undeniably catchy melody drew the audience in, leaving them on the edge of their seats.
Finally, Jordan Adenyi, who many might remember as one of the leads from this year’s school musical, “Once Upon a Mattress,” closed the show. Her song, “The Butterfly Effect” incorporated rapid rap style vocals and was a lyrical triumph. It had the entire audience singing along.
If you were unfortunate enough to have to have missed this incredible showcase, you can rewatch all the songs on the Songwriters’ YouTube channel, “The Songwriters Club at White Plains HS.” If you saw the showcase, now you can watch it again.
