From ukuleles to guitars to solos and duets, the courtyard was filled with music and admiring students April 26 during the annual Archella performance. Students across grade levels gathered in the courtyard to share their musical talent with the Archer community.

Archella is the Archer version of Coachella, a music festival that features a diverse group of artists. Archella takes place each year, and students are encouraged to sign up to perform for the community. This year, the Empowering Hearts club hosted a bake sale during the show that included cupcakes, cookies, cheese boards and their own version of the Starbucks pink drink. 

Performer Samara Gottlieb (28′) sang “The Circle Game“ by songwriter Joni Mitchell, and she reflected on what drew her to that song specifically.

“It’s just a song that’s really special to me that I remember singing when I was little, even with my dad,” Gottlieb said. “I think that happy memory just helped me pick the song.” 

While Gottlieb said she enjoyed the experience, she also said it was nerve-racking performing in front of such a large audience. 

“[I was] insanely terrified, like I could feel my legs shaking, but it was really fun,” Gottlieb said. “I would love to do it again, but I would want to choose another song that I really like that I’ve sung less as a challenge.”

Similarly, sixth grader Delainy Lloyd said she was very nervous going into the performance. This show was her first time performing at Archella, and she sang a Taylor Swift remix. 

“It was pretty hard because [the song] had to be two minutes long, and the original song is four minutes long, so I had to cut it down a lot, but it was super fun. I loved the prepping,” Lloyd said. 

Lloyd and Gottileb both said that the experience was incredible for them, and they loved getting to share their talents with the community.

“It was really fun,” Lloyd said. “I want to [perform] every year now because it’s amazing.”