Seniors sing their goodbyes at Spring Spotlight Concert
Every June, Jamie Butler’s heart breaks. “It’s hard,” said Butler, his voice hoarse. “This is a really great senior class. They’re sweet kids.” It’s the end of the school year, and time to say goodbye to his 74 senior students, who affectionately call him Mr. Butler, as students have for all his 13 years as American Canyon High School’s choir director.
Tuesday night was the official adieu — the Spring Spotlight Concert, a series of musical acts organized entirely by students. The night went like all goodbyes should: A little rowdy, very joyful and with songs sung through tears.
Parents, siblings, grandparents and dozens of fellow students filled the theater, often singing along to songs or holding lit cellphone screens high for ballads. At times, the room felt like an episode of “America’s Got Talent,” minus judges.
In gowns and suits, Public Display of A Capella singers opened the night with Bonnie Tyler’s “Total Eclipse,” returning later with a quietly heart-wrenching “Fix You” by Coldplay before going full goof mode in taco costumes for “The Taco Bell Canon.”
Friends and seniors Kale’a Dacanay and Jordan Iseri, sitting on tall stools in center stage, dueted “500 Miles” by Peter, Paul and Mary. “In a couple of months, we will literally be 500 miles apart,” said Dacanay in the mic, holding back tears. A soft “awwww” resounded through the room.
Spotlight is never just seniors, and never all choir students. The band Spider Lily, composed of sophomores, juniors and a senior, rocked the room with Maroon 5’s “Sunday Morning.” Gage Della’s and Isaiah “Kori” Baring’s soaring vocals blended beautifully over Brielle Sacatani’s casual guitar shredding, with members trading instruments throughout the set.
Baring’s parents, Jerrious and Christal Harris, were proud. “They do such great performances,” said Christal Harris. Just as many peers had come out for the show as family members, shouting and cheering for each act.
“The nice thing is,” said Harris, noting excited students streaming around the theater, “no matter what, the kids are always supporting each other.”
The night’s showstopper was sophomore David Vivas’ rendition of Amanda Miguel’s 1981 hit “Él Me Mintió,” a ballad sung in Spanish. For the song, lighting technician Kyle Hart gave Vivas diva treatment, using an effect called IMAG to project a close-up of Vivas singing behind him as the crowd roared.
After curtain call, Maia Medalle, who will be graduating in June, was all smiles as she hugged her parents and sister. Leaving the stage was bittersweet — like leaving home, she said.
“I feel very at home on this stage. I’ve performed here over 30 times throughout all four years of high school,” said Medalle, marvelling. “I’m just so appreciative of everything I’ve experienced. Mr. Butler changed my life.”
Teenagers are at a complex juncture in life. That night, songs spoke of heartbreak, love, loss and longing. “Sometimes, they’re told not to feel those things,” said Butler. Choir is a place students can channel complex life experiences without judgment, and in the supportive environment tended over Butler’s years leading the choir.
Here, he said, “they can learn how to feel emotions.” Packing up a mic stand, he sighed. “It’s going to be hard to say goodbye in a couple weeks.”
