photo credit: Sakara Ross
As the curtain draws for the final time, after the actors take their final bow and the applause dies out, he steps out of the theater, not headed to a red carpet or late-night party, but home to study for his chemistry test. The star-like life of celebrities and performers is something that is sought after throughout many childhood dreams. However, for one student who is heavily involved in the performing arts, these activities mean that the dedication pays off.
Samuel Hardjono, known by many as Sam, is a junior at the school. Musical performance has become a large aspect of his life including his involvement in Orangelight theater productions, Choraliers choir and Above The Noise (ATN) acapella group at the school and the Abbey Theater of Dublin.
“I had to handle two shows at once this year along with midterms. This came with the obvious difficulties of time management, which, quite frankly, I suck at. I remember getting picked up from school play rehearsal only to go to the next rehearsal down at the Dublin Abbey Theater. I would nearly fall asleep during the 20-minute drive down but had to keep my focus anyway. I got home at 9 p.m., and by that time, I would be so tired I would barely study,” Hardjono said.
Balancing this performance lifestyle along with still having daily high school classes has its challenges, although he has always persevered through, due to his immense love of the world of music and performance.
“One of the reasons I have participated in the performing arts for so long is because I really believe music and acting can evoke emotion in an audience. There are a lot of people who don’t take performers seriously, but the ones who do can learn a lot from the stories told onstage,” Hardjono said.
His influence on the school’s performing arts programs is obvious, shown in the nearly decade old memory of him and his siblings, shared by his choir teacher, Cheryl Brooks.
“We [ATN] were doing the concert at Franklin Park Conservatory, and we had extra time at the end and [Sam’s] mother said ‘If there’s time at the end can [Jermey, Grace and Sam] sing,” Brooks said. “Sam and Grace were literally under three feet. They were so short and young, so I was wondering how it was going to go. They just sang it like they were little professionals. It was the weirdest, most wonderful moment.”
However, having this social standing and community wasn’t a given. The Hardjonos made the decision to transfer and commute to the school, due to the immense availability of performing arts programs, which did not come without challenges. Where did they come from?
“Overall, I had tremendous growth in character and confidence from the first time I walked into high school. Freshman year was really tough because all I really wanted was a place to belong in a building full of strangers,” Harjono (spelling) said.
But throughout time, he has found people, winning them over by being himself.
“He has an uncanny ability to make everybody feel important around him; that’s not a normal high school trait. He’s just that kind of kid. It’s something that you just have or don’t, and he has it his whole life,” Brooks said.
His accomplishments throughout his high school education so far cannot be overstated.
“I still remember performing in the CAPA Marquee Awards Showcase my freshman year in the Ohio Theater. Just being among very talented performers around the Columbus area was such a cool experience, and I remember having to hold the first pose of the opening number for a solid minute just to wait for the roaring applause to die down,” Hardjono said.
More recently, he was accepted to attend All-State Choir in Cleveland at the beginning of February.
“Making state choir is a huge deal. Plus, he has been singing solos and leading since his freshman year; that’s not normal for a high school student,” Brooks said.
All of this success has occurred before Hardjono has even reached his senior year. However, he still wishes to keep music apart of his life, even beyond high school.
“I’m interested in studying music education, but I’m not very sure yet. I feel as if I haven’t explored many options because I’ve just been so busy in the performing arts. Maybe I’ll end up studying something else, but I will definitely keep music and theater as a part of my life as I grow up,” Hardjono said.
No matter what he ends up studying, music will always be a part of him, as it always has been.
“I’m looking forward to him realizing how much he has because he’s so humble, and it’s hard for him to see how talented he is,” Brooks said.
Be the first to comment