“Band day rocks!” said Juliet Lewis (VI) last Thursday while lounging on the Senior grass, listening to Form V students Jake May and Nick Koepp perform The Black Keys’ “Little Black Submarines.” This seemed to be the shared sentiment surrounding Band Day. Everyone I talked to commented on how cool it is that Fieldston puts on an annual, student-organized music festival (without the cheap booze and occasional drug-induced vomiting of a rager outside of school). “This is the way high school is supposed to be,” said Gregory Grene, who performed some Irish music with his band “The Prodigals.”
Band Day, organized in part by Marcelo Rivera (VI), also worked at breaking down boundaries that normally separate students. There was a fair amount of disbelief on the faces of many freshmen when Sarah Racz (VI) took the stage and announced, “Hey, so, this is Band Day… anyone’s allowed on the grass!” After nobody moved, she reiterated, “Seriously, come on down here!” and then proceeded to kill it on the guitar for the next 10 minutes or so. Shortly after her proclamation, the normally “sacred,” senior-exclusive grass was filled with both seniors and those of a more “immature” status, including Sasha Rosenholtz, the 6 year old daughter of Mr. Rosenholtz, a young woman only slightly more mature than myself. “What do you think of all this?” I asked, gesturing at the festivities. She looked at the spectacle contemplatively, “I like the popcorn,” she nodded to me slowly, “I also like it.” When later investigating what “it” was, I discovered that she was referring to the music.
The music, while an integral part of the day, was only part of the attraction. It was the first beautiful day after a long set of overcast ones and, Mr. Grene speculated that, “Nancy Banks had a hand in the wonderful weather.” A highlight of the for me was when Jake Brussel-Faria and Nathaniel Werner took the stage to perform “Dayman.” Halfway through the song, Jake veered off the lyrical track and said, “Adam Ettelbrick, will you come to prom with me in drag!?” I, of course, said yes.
On top of the greatest promposal ever, the fantastic music, and the acceptance (if only for a day) of all students on the senior grass, there was activism present at Band Day. Mr. Grene and the students for Haitian Aid Club have created what Mr. Grene calls “an incredible link” between students at Fieldston and students at the Andrew Grene High School in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Lucas Philips (V), a Haitian Aid Club leader, said that after selling “smoothies, popcorn and cotton candy” on one side of the quad while the music blared, the club made “over $1000.”
Nearby, Rachel Ehrlich, chair of the Ethics Department, was handing out free snacks to young kids from neighboring Bronx schools. “This is the fifth year the Fieldston community has opened up to its larger extended neighbors in the Bronx by inviting kindergartens from three different after-school programs,” Ms. Ehrlich explained, “Music invites community and that’s what we’ve been able to do here.” Form V Dean John Reyes said that Band Day felt “like we were really celebrating community.”
In the end, that’s what Band Day does best. Aside from stellar performances by Henry Miller (V), Jefferson Randall, and Adam Wanetik (both IV), and others – including those mentioned above – Band Day brings people together. It allows us to celebrate community while also opening our doors to outsiders. Possibly the only thing more exciting than the day itself were the final word that John Reyes left me with: “What does Band Day really signify?” he said, repeating my question. He pondered for a moment before saying, “it means summer is coming.”
