It’s a lot of practice and it’s a lot of fun. You know that people are going to cheer for you, and that’s a beautiful, magical, wonderful thing.”

Taliah Reid

An all-time record crowd crammed into the Mt. Hope High School cafeteria and cheered while students performed a set list containing songs from Chet Baker, Hall and Oates, Dua Lipa, Nirvana, Michael Jackson and Gavin Reed, during the third Musicafé of the season last Thursday night. 

“We had 202 people there,” said an excited David Lauria, the school’s music teacher and choral director, who started the student-performed shows in 2016. 

“I’d like to stress that the students run almost everything in these shows,” he said.

The students book acts, help find accompanists, make and sell refreshments, run tech and sound, and help with setup and breakdown. 

“In September, we started with a brand-new crew,” he said. “So for them to come this far in just three performances is a great testament to their hard work and ability.”

Reed wows crowd with ‘One’

Gavin Reed’s deep voice melted the room during his song, “One.” The tall, lanky junior sat on a stool strumming his acoustic guitar and leaned in close to the mic. His baritone voice has an edginess like Morrissey from the Smiths. He wrote “One,” a song about a relationship, in about 30 minutes, he said. 

“It was a struggle having to let go. So I sat down, started writing, and put my heart into like, the entire thing, just letting everything float, no matter how I felt,” he said. 

The chorus of the emotional song pulls at the heart:

“Oh I beg, Just this once, Please don’t leave, I’m all one. Oh I beg, Just this once, While I’m numb, Just say it’s done.”

The crowd gave a roaring ovation. 

“I’ve really enjoyed being a part of it,” Reed said. “Even though it’s nerve-racking, my favorite thing is getting on stage and getting to sing and perform.”

Reed began playing guitar three years ago and started writing his own music in December 2023. 

“I want people to listen to a song and really have to look at it and come up with their own meaning. Delve into the lyrics and feel it, like it’s a compress.”

Musicafé veteran performs in three songs

Senior Taliah Reid, a Musicafé veteran, performed in three different acts. She sang “Paris, Texas” by Lana Del Rey, accompanied by Kara Pisasale on piano. She paired with Jasmine Motta to sing, “Don’t Speak” by No Doubt. And she sang back-up vocals on Michael Jackson’s “Beat it,” with Kiara DeRobbio on lead vocals and Nate Calouro and Mr. Lauria on guitar. 

“It’s an insane opportunity,” Reid said of performing. “At first it’s like super nerve-racking, but once you get to it and you see how super supportive the group is, you’re like, ‘Oh my god, this is amazing.’ ” 

Reid found she had a gifted singing voice during middle school choir and has sung in 16 Musicafés since her freshman year. The first song she performed was “Like a Tattoo” by Sade. She also sings in the school’s vocal ensemble and performs in concerts and musicals. This spring she will be portraying Audrey in The Masqueraders performance of “Little Shop of Horrors.”

“It’s a lot of practice and it’s a lot of fun,” she said. “You know that people are going to cheer for you, and that’s a beautiful, magical, wonderful thing.”