Jazz Singers performed at a community event put on by Homeboy Industries, a rehabilitation and reentry program, Dec. 9. In addition, they performed multiple gigs throughout December, including ETM-LA’s 19th Annual Benefit Gala honoring Upper School Performing Arts Teacher Zanaida Robles Dec. 6, and a performance in Bloomingdales Dec. 8.
Alexa Chang ’25 said sharing music with the nonprofit was uplifting.
“We’ve performed for Homeboy Industries before, and we saw the way that music affected [members] last year,” Chang said. “That was a really profound experience for us, so I was really excited to get to do that again. There are some people out there that don’t get to experience music as regularly, and I’m glad that we were able to provide that experience for them.”
Jazz Singers Co-Director Nadya Hitomi ’25 said music bridges the gap between people with different backgrounds.
“I feel like connecting to a group of people completely different from us is really powerful,” Hitomi said. “We created a real genuine connection that otherwise wouldn’t have been made if it weren’t for music.”
Hitomi said the group’s hard work paid off due to the dedication and passion of the members.
“It’s been a lot of work just because I didn’t realize initially how much work it takes to be in an a capella group with so many technical details that you are constantly considering,” Hitomi said. “But being a leader of this group has been an honor because everyone is super great, super talented and super hard working. Everyone’s passionate about what we’re doing. It’s great to be in a group where everyone equally loves the music as much as I do, which is a really rare experience.”
Diya Schievink ’26 said that being a part of the group allowed her to gain a deeper appreciation for music.
“It’s definitely a time commitment, but it’s really rewarding, and the group is so much fun,” Schievink said. “It’s mostly made up of seniors and they’re all very passionate about jazz and the performances that we put on. Everyone works hard to know their music and to execute it well, so I’ve learned a lot from the experience.”
Maya Ray ’25 said the band prepares in the final hours leading up to a show by using their intensive rehearsals for creative experimentation and taking measures to ensure they deliver a cohesive performance.
“Before a show, we do countless practices,” Ray said. “We meet during our free time and start really fleshing out and making the music our own. One thing we have been working on this year is defining what Jazz Singers is. This means adding instruments to our sets, little bits of choreography, and different ways to infuse joy into our performances. Before we go on stage, [Nadya] and I make sure one of us gives a little pep talk to ensure we are going into each performance as a team.”
Ray said she enjoys her time with the group despite its demanding time commitment.
“I feel that the most challenging part of Jazz Singers, besides the repertoire, is the amount of dedication and time it takes,” Ray said. “I love singing, but it can be tough sometimes to practice so much. But in my mind, if there is anything I would love to do for hours, it’s to sing with this incredible group.”
