GBX Music Fest, a student-led production, brings together musicians from across Glenbard District 87 for a night of original music and collaboration. Held annually since 2022 at Glenbard East’s Biester Auditorium, the festival has quickly become a growing tradition. This year’s event took place Saturday, April 11, from 6 to 9 p.m., featuring three DJ sets, four headliners and nine interludes, two of which included performers from Glenbard South. Interludes are performers who sing covers, while headliners perform original music. All performers earned their sports through a competitive audition process.
The girl group, Afternoon Daylight, featuring Dana Muang, Ariana Saldana and Nancy Sung, performed “Fantasmas” by Humbe, which translates to “ghosts” in Spanish, a song they previously performed at Multicultural Night. Dana Muang, a current senior, explained why the group chose the song: “We wanted to express the emotions behind the song, which was finding comfort after experiencing loss of a loved one. We wanted to bring the same comfort to our audience at the GBX Music Fest.”
Ariana Saldana, also a senior, explained the meaning of the song’s lyrics and translated the lines that stood out to her: “En esta casa no existen fantasmas, son puros recuredos” and “No hay muchos trofeos, con ustedes tengo.” In direct translation, the lines mean: “In this house, no ghosts exist, only memories,” and “There are not many trophies, but with you, it’s enough.” She said she found the lyrics “beautiful and heartwarming, for they highlight the beauty of mourning loved ones in the way of remembering all the good times rather than for their death.”
In addition, Erin O’Keefe, a sophomore at Glenbard South, performed as an interlude, singing a cover of “Valerie” by Amy Winehouse. She said, “My favorite part of the performance was getting to perform alongside my dad and hearing everyone clap along and get excited.”
This event is unlike any other, filled with students who aspire to perform on stage as if they were in a concert. Erin O’Keefe noted the event’s uniqueness: “It opens an opportunity for future performers to get a glimpse into their future while having a supportive audience watching them.” This event features original music, professional-style lighting and sound and which is organized entirely by students. Audience members stand near the stage, listen and sing along to a variety of genres and enjoy the festival atmosphere created by fog machines, a standing-room-only pit and light-up styrofoam sticks.
Supporting young aspiring performers is key, and this event delivers. Dana Muang stated, “Personally, this event was not only an opportunity for small artists to showcase their music and their voice but also a way to have fun.” Ariana Saldana said, “Seeing other students perform their own songs has been truly inspiring, it takes real courage to share something so intimate and raw with an audience, let alone step on stage to perform it.” This event buzzed with energy, captivating performers and audience members alike.
