Kenna Gillis ’27 (left) and Lily Pratt ’26 perform at the spring concert. Photo: Mr. Michael Aldridge.
What makes Northwood special is the true family-like experience. The tight-knit community never fails to encourage and support its members. This is a constant theme embedded in our values, but always in full effect on one special night of the year: Spring Concert. Seniors soak in the final performances of their Northwood career as freshmen and sophomores begin to fall in love with them.
For anyone outside our community looking in, it may seem like an ordinary school concert, but that is far from the case. During Northwood concerts, the auditorium is filled with warmth, awe, and enjoyment. Surrounded by their closest friends, the audience watches their classmates and teachers in amazement. Existing friendships are strengthened, and new friendships are formed. Most students find themselves wishing performers they have never spoken to good luck or congratulating them on a job well done. Spring only emphasizes these emotions, turning it into a magical, memorable night.
Lilly Pratt ’26 and Kenna Gillis ’27 performed their final duet together after two years of performing in front of the school and more often for the West Girls’ Dorm. The growth of their musical talent has been nothing short of incredible. Neither of the girls had ever performed until given the opportunity at Northwood. They had messed around with the guitar and singing growing up, but nothing serious. They never would have imagined that they would be up on stage, under the spotlight, performing in front of their entire high school.
Lily shared, “Northwood concerts are a great way for the community to show a creative side that can get lost here. I love the opportunity to perform with Kenna and connect on a different level. I am grateful that I got to share my music with others.”
Kenna added, “To me, Northwood concerts mean the opportunity to share my work with others and hopefully encourage others to hear music the way that I do. I feel music can express emotions that are harder to express through only words, so I feel successful when others can feel the emotions of the songs we play.”
“Knowing I performed my last concert with Lily is sad, as I have a lot of fun playing with her, but more than that, I am so grateful for the memories and the opportunity.”
