The Prep Art and Literary Magazine (PALM) kicked off its new season on Oct. 1 with a lunchtime “PALM Preview” concert that brought together music and poetry in an interdisciplinary showcase. With student spoken word performances coordinated by PALM leaders Thalia Cheung ‘26 and Eva Eldemir ‘26, and musical performances coordinated by music teacher Ms. Stefanie Dubrowksi, the event transformed the Campbell Ampitheater into a performance space, offering the community an opportunity to experience the shared talents of SHP’s artists.

The concert began with a rendition of Beyoncé’s Halo, performed by vocalist and synth player Maira Srivastava ‘28, supported by fellow students on guitar, piano, and percussion. Its soaring lines and layered harmonies set a tone of energy that carried throughout the event.

Literature soon took the stage with Conversations with Blackness, a poetry performance by Ollie Ballard ‘26. Addressing themes of race and identity, the piece highlighted PALM’s central mission: to give voice to members of the student body through artistic expression.

The setlist then moved to Sophia Kaushik ‘27 performing Fleetwood Mac’s Silver Springs, followed by Marie Peng ‘27 reading her evocative poem New York. Later, bassist and vocalist Finau Tau ‘27 led Feels Like Rain, a blues-inflected number with steady rhythms and soulful vocals.

Poetry punctuated the program with moments of quiet intimacy. Anna Lee ‘27 offered a meaningful reflection with her poem, The Small Things, before the program’s conclusion.

The finale arrived with SHP’s own student band, Bell and the Peppers, whose performance of Radiohead’s High and Dry closed the PALM Preview on a spirited note. They left the audience energized and excited, marking the end of the inaugural PALM gathering.

For many performers, the event was more than a showcase; it was a first step into public performance. Percussionist Magnolia Stryker ‘28, who played in several numbers, reflected on both the preparation and execution of the program: “The rhythm section music class has been working on these songs for a while. For some of the beginners, it was their first time performing. It showed all the hard work that has gone into these songs for the past few weeks.”

As PALM works toward creating its 2025-2026 issue, the team plans on organizing more lunchtime concerts like this one. These performances offer not only entertainment, but also a vision of what the magazine represents—an invitation to experience creativity as a collective endeavor, where all artists on campus meet in conversation and are given a place to share their work with the community.