Singing, Lilly Swigert (’30) brushes Isla Canning’s (’30) hair. Before each performance, all choir members joined together to sing “The Burns Medley,” a mix of pop songs to warm up and gain energy before the concert. Sophomore Callie Roth said she views the Burns Medley as a chance to motivate herself to perform. “Getting to sing with everybody get’s my spirit up and gets me pumped for the concert,” she said.

Sophomore Emerson Cohen celebrates her 16th birthday during tech week. “It was one of my favorite birthdays I’ve ever had,” Cohen said. “I was so grateful to celebrate my birthday while doing my favorite thing at the same time.”

Chatting over dinner, Sophomores Chloe Kirk, Darian Weiss, Alexa Kagiwada and Emerson Cohen sit in the courtyard before the concert. Kirk has performed in orchestra since middle school, and said she enjoys connecting with people in other programs. “Tech week breaks are a fun time to connect with people you wouldn’t have been able to talk to otherwise,” Kirk said.

Performers hug on the closing night of the spring concert. Roth said the annual traditions before closing night bring everyone together. “With the traditions, there’s a lot of bonding with each other,” Roth said. “I think it’s special to have the traditions that we [do].”

Performing the “Cup Song,” the Unaccompanied Minors join together on the veranda to sing. Before each concert, the Unaccompanied Minors participated a tradition of performing a “Riff-Off,” inspired by the 2012 a capella film “Pitch Perfect.” Cohen said she felt especially connected to the rest of a capella during tech week. “I just think it was a great concert,” she said. “I was so grateful for the opportunity to spend the concert with everyone.”

Eighth graders Makenzie Hilton and Tea Walker sing “The Burns Medley” for the last time as middle school students. Beginning in May, rising upper school singers have started to audition to be a part of the high school ensemble, “The Unaccompanied Minors.” Cohen arranges and performs many of the set-list for a capella. “Over the years, I’ve gotten more comfortable and used to it,” Cohen said. “Since my first arrangement [in 9th grade], I’ve had various arrangements in the concerts — it’s been incredible to write the arrangements on my own and get feedback from Ms. O’Connor.”