On Feb. 17, students from the AMPA program took the stage at The Mint, a jazz club on Olympic Blvd, to deliver a night of live music. Among the performers were Mateo Arce and Olivia McNeill, both of whom shared their experiences about playing in a professional jazz setting.
Mateo, an 11th grader in AMPA, said stepping onto The Mint’s stage was an exhilarating moment.
“I felt very excited stepping on the stage as I got to perform in front of my friends and family,” he said.
His band performed a selection of well-loved jazz classics, including “Fly Me to the Moon,” “My Funny Valentine,” and “Misty.”
Mateo said that there were differences in performing at The Mint as opposed to the atmosphere and experience of playing at school.
“At school, it’s very formal; you’re performing in front of parents and adults. At The Mint, it’s very jazz club-ish. There are booths and tables, people are talking, socializing, ordering food,” Mateo said. “It just keeps the environment very light for a performer.”
He said he looks forward to returning to The Mint for future shows.
AMPA sophomore Olivia McNeill said the experience was new, since it was her first time performing on a stage like The Mint’s.
“It was my first jazz gig and my first time performing at The Mint, so stepping on that stage was incredibly nerve-wracking.” said Olivia.
However, her nerves quickly faded as she and her band dove into their set, which included six songs such as “It Could Happen to You” and “Misty.”
The opportunity to perform at The Mint came through for another band, Dull Moon, who helped secure the gig for the other performers. Olivia expressed appreciation for the chance to perform in such a professional space.
“Performing at The Mint is different than at school because of the community and ambiance that it provides us, although school brings the same amount of quality.”
Both Mateo and Olivia agreed that the experience brought them closer to their fellow musicians and created lasting memories.
For Mateo, Jazz Nite stood out as his most unforgettable performance. “The most memorable moment at the Mint was this Jazz Nite,” he said. “The energy our band had on stage was unreal.”
For Olivia, the highlight was performing her favorite song, “Misty,” in front of the people that she loves.
Both musicians said they are eager for more.
Olivia said, “Hopefully, we will be able to perform there again because of how great of an opportunity it was for all of us, and how much it brought us together through music.”
