By Faith Montagnino, Assistant Features / Arts & Entertainment Editor

Inspired by the SCOPE Council’s charity-oriented Love Week 2021, the Arts Council held a virtual Coffee House event on the evening of February 11 centering on the themes of love and friendship. Hosted by Arts Council Chair Gracie Whaley, the night was diverse in artistic talent, featuring presentations ranging from Georges Bizet’s “Habanera” to “Wide Open Spaces” by The Chicks. Additionally, the chorus dedicated a surprise recording of Nancy LaMott’s “We Can Be Kind” to departing Head of School Mary Sciarrillo, who counts the song as one of her favorites.

The first annual Trinity Hall Coffee House did not see a dull moment. A handful of faculty members, along with alumna Anna Phillips (‘19), sang a rendition of “Let There Be Peace on Earth” to the pleasant surprise of the audience. Later, junior Alex Talamayan made school history by becoming the first singer to perform a song in another language: Tagalog. “Ikaw” by Yeng Constantino “…is a notable female love ballad renowned for its usage in describing a romance between the leads of a show,” Talamayan described. “It is commonly used for the soundtrack of a teleserye,” or a Filipino TV show.

The Coffee House served as a brief creative escape for both performers and viewers amidst the isolating age of COVID-19. Junior Hannah Bates, who sang and played guitar for the event, has gained “an appreciation for the recording process and of live music,” as all performances presented during the Coffee House were pre-recorded and edited solely by the performers. 

Despite virtual barriers, Arts Council Chair Gracie Whaley deems the first Trinity Hall Coffee House a success. “The Coffee House was a great way for students to share their artistic endeavors in a non-competitive way. No winners or losers, just people who love the arts,” Whaley said.