Middle School Artists Take Center Stage on DoPA Day

11/5/2025

One of the most iconic Beatles’ songs is now part of middle school DoPA (Department of Performing Arts) Day lore.

When fifth graders Phoebe Graves and Astrid Elsbach shared the spotlight for their performance of “Let It Be,” the friends made beautiful music together at the inaugural middle school DoPA Day.

“The song was recommended to me by Mr. Raubeson, and I really wanted to play piano and sing at the same time, and Astrid was playing the drums, so I felt like it was all our own,” Graves said.

It didn’t take long for Elsbach to start getting excited about performing: “I think after the second practice, once we got the beat down and Phoebe started singing, that's when we thought, ‘We should do this!’”

Much like its upper school counterpart, middle school DoPA Days will take place throughout the school year during school community meetings. It’s a day when interested students work toward performing a music solo or with a group, with guidance from middle school music teacher John-Alec Raubeson and middle school performing arts coordinator Katie Meadows.

Meadows shared, “We were so proud of how the students took risks, tried something new and supported one another in this moment. It’s so hard to get up in front of your peers and perform, especially at this developmental stage!”

Seventh grader Relly Rand sang Adele’s “Set Fire to the Rain” and felt the love from the start. “I felt very encouraged and also relieved,” she shared. “Not because I wanted the performance over with but because I did something just for me. I felt great and the support lasted for days after.”

For Graves, that feeling of belonging also had an impact. “I feel like DoPA Day is so inclusive and even if you mess up, everyone's still going to cheer you on, and it's super supportive.”

Added Raubeson, “It helps so much when you feel supported by your audience. They really carry you through!”

Beyond the applause, Elsbach appreciated something more: “I think it was fun because you saw the other side of people. You see them in class or you see them doing sports or at recess, but then at DoPA Day you see them perform — people you've never seen sing or play instruments, but you get to know people better when you're practicing in the music room with them. So because of this day, you get to make new connections.”

Middle School DoPA Day - October 27

Leon Chilton ’31, Odie Garfield ’31, Clara Gluckselig ’31, Bijou Genece ’31 - “Hotel California” (band)
Izzy Roberts ’31- “I’m Like a Bird” (vocal accompanied by John-Alec Raubeson on guitar)
Reina Frias ’32 - violin solo
Phoebe Graves ’33 and Astrid Elsbach ’33 - “Let It Be” (vocal, piano and percussion)
Nathan Bencosme ’32 - “The Blue Jazz” (piano solo)
Relly Rand ’31 - “Set Fire to the Rain” (vocal accompanied by Katie Meadows on piano)