If you’ve been involved with any of the performing arts disciplines, it’s more than likely that you’ve encountered a familiar face within the department, often frequenting the orchestra, choir, and theatre rooms and occasionally the band room.
“[Getting involved is] easily the best thing that’s happened to me,” Lucas Torres said.
Lucas Torres is one of the most involved members of Annandale’s performing arts community, contributing to each of the disciplines in various ways throughout the school year. He specializes in orchestra and theatre, currently taking the symphony orchestra class and tech theatre 3. He also takes part in the men’s chorale and enjoys providing the marching band with technical support.
“You get to meet so many new people, and you get so many opportunities. You get to learn new skills–I would recommend it to anyone. I love this place,” Torres said.
He first became involved with the performing arts in his freshman year, when Ms. Ray, his AVID teacher at the time, convinced him to help with an annual orchestra event. Consequently, he met his future colleagues and was ultimately convinced to do run crew for the upcoming theatre shows.
After he officially enrolled in the performing arts classes and began to meet people, his life changed a lot, and he became much happier. For the most part, theatre was the discipline that helped him put himself out there, and he’s learned how to communicate and set boundaries as a result.
“It has been stressful at times, but that’s mostly when we’re gearing up for a show, like for tech week, or concerts, or rehearsals, etc. Those can be a little stressful, but other than that, this is the best thing that has ever happened to me. I am doing this for the rest of my life,” Torres said.
Aside from music-related skills, being involved has taught Torres about the importance of time-management as well as engaging with your community and pursuing your passions.
“Just put yourself out there,” he said. “Don’t be afraid that someone’s gonna judge you. I learned that the performing arts are a really safe space, and it’s not a place where people find things to judge you for.”
For anyone with even a slight interest in the performing arts, he would advise them to pursue it all the way, insisting that the welcoming community and nurturing environment makes it all worthwhile.
Torres plans to continue his performing arts journey for his senior year by taking tech theatre 4, 2 orchestra classes, and men’s chorale while also helping out the marching band once again. After high school, he is going to major in music education and technical theatre, hoping to eventually teach music at a school, specifically orchestra.
“I love this, it’s such an amazing thing. I want other kids to have what I had at Annandale…and I want them to understand loving music. I’m gonna do that any way I can, any way I know how, and that’s just to give them what I had,” Torres said.
Joining the performing arts and being involved in each of the disciplines has had more of a positive impact on Torres than anything. An experience like this would undoubtedly leave anyone feeling welcomed and inspired, and it is no wonder that the performing arts community will continue to thrive at AHS for years to come.
