Sixth Form Musicians Say Goodbye to the Hilltop at End-of-Year Concerts

O’Connor House serves as the Head of School’s personal residence on the hilltop, but on May 17, it transformed into an intimate jazz club. Sixth Form musicians Serena Bacetti ’26, Ian Conde ’26, Miguel Garcia ’26, Sebastian Lucio Galvis ’26, and Zekai “Aaron” Zhu ’26 came together for one final Canterbury recital, demonstrating their creativity, collaboration, and tremendous talent.

Friends, family, and faculty—including Head of School Caroline Blatti—enjoyed an ambitious and stylistically diverse program that moved effortlessly from traditional Dixieland jazz to jazz-infused reinterpretations of rock classics like “Come Together” and “House of the Rising Sun.”

Director of Music Dave Overthrow could not be prouder of his students.

“What made the evening truly special was not only the high level of performance, but also how amazingly the students rose to the occasion as confident, expressive, and deeply connected musicians,” he says. “Their poise, musical communication, and genuine enjoyment on stage reflected countless hours of dedication and preparation. This recital was both artistically impressive and genuinely joyful for the audience.

This special performance came on the heels of another end-of-year musical celebration. On May 15, the Contemporary Band, Honors Contemporary Band, and Jazz Ensemble performed in the Modern Melodies & Beyond Concert in Maguire Auditorium. Musicians wowed their audience with a set list that included classic rock, pop, R&B, and jazz. While each ensemble had its own personality and unique style, they all shared the same passion for music, commitment to the process, and excitement of performing together.

“Working with the Honors Contemporary Band was incredibly rewarding because they approached music with both seriousness and genuine excitement,” says Mr. Overthrow. “You could really feel how much they cared about the music and about creating something meaningful together. The Contemporary Band brought a great spirit into every rehearsal; there was a real sense of joy and curiosity in the room, and watching their confidence grow over the course of the year was one of the best parts of the experience. And the Jazz Ensemble embraced the trust, listening, flexibility, and courage it takes to be a jazz musician. Working with all of these groups throughout the year was honestly one of the highlights of my time at Canterbury.”

Congratulations to all of these wonderful musicians, especially our graduating Sixth Form students!

Honors Contemporary Band
Serena Bacetti ’26, vocals
Ian Conde ’26, piano
Miguel Garcia ’26, bass
Sebastian Lucio Galvis ’26, drums
Chase Sukow ’27, guitar
Haolin “Henry” Yu ’27, piano

Contemporary Band
Liam Hamlet ’27, guitar
Yun “Angel” Lin ’26, piano
Allegra Linero ’27, vocals
Gianna Martinez ’26, vocals
William Matouk ’28, guitar
William Matouk ’28, vocals
Zach Mwanza ’27, vocals
Michael O’Sullivan ’28, guitar
Joey Pieksza ’27, guitar
Maeve Prendergast ’27, guitar
Hannah Soifersmith ’27, drums
Jiaqi “Jenny” Yu ’27, guitar
Jingqi “Amy” Zhang ’27, guitar

Jazz Ensemble
Miguel Garcia ’26,  trombone
Hayzen Miller ’29,  tenor sax
Tallulah Petkov ’28, piano
Vail Kinley ’29, trumpet
Zekai “Aaron” Zhu ’26, upright bass