Columbus Annual Walkathon Rock Concert sends excitement throughout students
- Diego Rodriguez Deshon
- Oct 15
- 3 min read
By Diego Rodriguez Deshon
The annual Rock Concert at Christopher Columbus High School featured performances from teachers and staff in a show that energized the student body.
As the bleachers filled with those who had purchased concert tickets, the band started playing “Seven Nation Army,” giving students a taste of what they were getting themselves into. Once the gym was full of students waiting for the concert to officially begin, Mr. Marinelli introduced the band after briefly hyping up the crowd.
The band then rushed in with their walkathon-themed Goku hats to show some school spirit. Mr. De Tuya then got into the crowd and instantly grabbed everyone’s attention to get the show started.
The concert opened with Mr. Jesurun and Mrs. Medico performing “APT,” an upbeat song that got everyone riled up for the beginning of the show. Medico brought out some moves for this song as she showed her passion for singing, while Jesurun was one of the cornerstones of the song’s harmony. The three guitarists — Cooper, De Tuya and Ulloa — showed strong chemistry throughout their performances. Not to forget the main beat from the band's drummer, Mr. Santa Maria.
"There was lots of atmosphere and energy, first time I had ever seen something like this at school," said freshman Eduardo Santacruz.
Following “APT,” Mr. Scholer and Mr. Moro brought classic rock to the table and sang “Go Johnny Go,” featuring Moro’s outstanding harmonica solo that really got the crowd going. Then, Crossman and Moro’s “Use Somebody” performance dove into a more emotional mood as the crowd turned on their lights to add to the heartfelt moment.
“Crossman’s performance felt super emotional and real. You could tell he got really into it,” said junior Rayan Riaz.
Mr. Moro and Mr. Chacon kept the rhythm going with “Don’t You (Forget About Me)” and continued to keep the crowd entertained. After their performance, the notorious mood riser Mr. Marinelli shook things up with “Higher,” having the crowd wave their hands side to side while enjoying Marinelli’s magnetic voice. The song “In the Air Tonight” drew one of the loudest reactions of the night, especially during the iconic drum break.
"I felt like Moro and Chacon were killing it out there, they made the show amazing," said sophomore James Ordonez.
With one of the last performances, Mr. O’Brien’s “I Will Survive” was easily one of the most hyped-up acts. Students chanting “OB! OB! OB!” made his performance one of the most memorable, showing the strong connection students had with Mr. O’Brien. After his act came to an end, Mr. Chacon and Mr. Marinelli’s electric “Basket Case” energized the entire gym, with students singing along and waving their hands.
"O'Brien is the G.O.A.T., I'm so glad we were able to see him out there," said junior Jack Brown.
For the finale, Mr. Ulloa and Mr. Jesurun took the stage to close the concert with “Welcome to the Black Parade.” The final song was as close to perfect as it could get—Ulloa passionately multitasking between singing and shredding the guitar was a visual that showed his love for music. The finale was emotional, loud, and perfectly fitting for a concert that celebrated talent, teamwork, and pure school spirit. When everything was finished, the band took a bow and was congratulated for their awesome performance.
"The combination of Jesurun's voice and Ulloa's shredding of the guitar was the perfect ending to the concert". said Bryan Espinosa.
The concert, organized by the school’s faculty and music department, featured a mix of genres and showcased the community’s enthusiasm.
Which was your favorite performance?
"Seven Nation Army" - Mr. Crossman and Mr. Moro
"APT" - Mr. Jesurun and Mr. Medico
"Go Johnny Go" - Mr. Scholer and Mr. Moro
"Use Somebody" - Mr. Crossman and Mr. Moro
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