On Wednesday, October 29, 2025, the annual JPS Choir Spookghetti Concert commenced in the school cafeteria. It was a beautiful combination of harmony, emotions, and musicality, featuring our school’s talented singers and accompanists across all ensembles.
The concert started with the Concert Choir’s performance of “Now I Walk in Beauty—Navajo Prayer,” arranged by Gregg Smith, which set the pensive mood for the rest of the night. Then, they performed the song “I’m Building Me A Home,” arranged by Anthony Trecek King, a soulful song that utilizes harmonic balances to express its themes of hope and the desire for belonging.
Between the full ensemble performances, a wide variety of soloists expressed their emotions through their own numbers. One such solo was Aarushi Venkatarangan’s performance of “From the Start,” by famous Icelandic singer Laufey, featuring Mehakpreet Kaur on piano, Mahi Paliwal on alto saxophone, and Teerth Shah on the snare drum. Other highlights include Shaurya Bansal’s interpretation of “Say You Won’t Let Go” by James Arthur; Anagha Nagesh’s performance of “My Immortal” by Amy Lee, featuring Srujan Oak on piano; and “Bewitched” by Laufey, which was sung by Advika Anand and supported by Namya Purani on the violin. During all of these wonderful solo performances, spaghetti was served to the audience, which allowed the audience to indulge in delicacies while enjoying the music.
Next, the Chamber Ensemble demonstrated its proficiency with dazzling performances. Specifically, they sang “The Word Was God” by Rosephanye Powell, a vibrant choral piece that celebrates the power and divinity of God through harmonies and precise vocal coordination. In addition, the Chamber Ensemble’s performance of “My Heart Be Brave” by Marques Garrett particularly highlighted the group’s strong blend and control. Their rich choral tone and more advanced selections offered a stark contrast to the contemporary hints of flavor from the soloists’ performances scattered throughout the event.
Thereafter, the JPS Harmonix performed, a group that holds a primary focus on contemporary music. This group notably sang two Beyoncé songs, “American Requiem” and “Immortal.” Sophomore JPS Harmonix member Aarit Malhotra said, “Choir concerts are always a really fun experience to see all of our hard work come together. Though there are some slip-ups, they always end up being a fun and memorable experience.”
Afterwards, the A Cappella Ensemble presented two selections: “By Night” by Elaine Hagenburg and “Where the Light Begins” by Susan LaBarr. The latter featured impressive piano accompaniment from Justine Langman, whose playing added warmth and depth to the ensemble’s songs.
To conclude the JPS Choir Spookghetti event, the Concert Choir presented the iconic “Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In” by Galt MacDermot and arranged by Mac Huff. This exciting finale featured a strong lineup of talent, including a vocal solo by Anagha Nagesh as well as accompaniment on synth, drums, flute, and trumpet, whose combined sound resonated and reverberated in the cafeteria, enchanting the audience’s ears.
As sophomore Aakansha Sharma describes, “The last concert we had was the Spaghetti Dinner, and it went so well! We served spaghetti for the audience while solo performances went on, and all of these performances were amazing! We ended the show with the song ‘Aquarius,’ which was so joyful and energetic! I’m a part of the A Cappella and Concert Choirs, and I would recommend joining the choir if you enjoy music!”
Overall, with its diverse selection of music, standout soloists, and magnificent performances, the JPS Choir program’s production of the Spookghetti Dinner was an unforgettable experience. Senior Sriman Arji recounts, “I thoroughly enjoyed being both a performer and audience member at the Spaghetti Dinner. I was not only able to express my musical abilities on a bigger stage, but I could also witness other people’s talents shine as well.” The evening’s success reflected the weeks of hard work, diligent practice, and dedication that these students put into their choir program, leaving the audience inspired and anticipating future performances.
