Canterbury’s Past & Present Come Together for Annual Echoes of Time Concert

Two female singers sing into microphones under violet stage lights.

Mar 10 2026

Time and time again, Canterbury’s vibrant community shows that once you’re a Saint, you’re always a Saint. On March 6, that was abundantly clear at the 8th annual Past & Present concert, Echoes of Time, when current students took the stage with Canterbury music program alumni. Students, faculty, and friends were wowed by a powerful program, featuring songs spanning generations, from Paul Simon and The Eagles to No Doubt and Green Day.

“The evening is a true collision of where we’ve been and where we’re headed,” says Director of Music Dave Overthrow. “The alumni who return don’t just do so to perform, but to rehearse, mentor, and make music side by side with the next generation.”

Some of the returning graduates have gone on to study music at the university level and perform professionally. Others have maintained their passion for music as a hobby. But one thing they all have in common is a desire to give back to the program—and community—that helped shape them. In turn, they play an important role in encouraging and inspiring current students on their own musical journeys.

“I've been rehearsing with alumni for the Past & Present concert since my freshman year,” says Miguel Garcia ’26. “Even when I was nervous as a freshman, the alumni were extremely friendly and really wanted us to enjoy and learn about music. Today, I look up to them, and I see them as friends.”

Nick Cabrera ’09, a professional musician based in New York City, has performed in seven of the eight annual concerts. Though he was a musician before he arrived on the hilltop, he says it was Mr. Overthrow who nudged him toward the guitar. His relationship with his former teacher and the excitement of watching current students grow as artists keep him returning to Canterbury year after year.

“It’s really nice to come back to the room where I started and remember how I felt back then,” he says. “I also love coming in and seeing the new crop of kids and how excited they get about performing.”

“It’s more than a concert,” says Mr. Overthrow. “It’s a full-circle moment. The night captures the best of what the Canterbury community stands for—Saints supporting Saints—and it remains one of the absolute highlights of the year for our student musicians.”

Congratulations to all of Canterbury’s fantastic performers!

Honors Contemporary Band