Vocal Music

Carly Nelson ’25 has been passionate about singing for as long as she can remember. Last semester, she had the honor of sharing her voice in a deeply meaningful way—performing the National Anthem for 50 new American citizens from 24 countries at a U.S. Naturalization Ceremony at King Gillette Ranch in Calabasas.

“It was surreal,” Carly recalled. “Seeing people stand as their country was called, holding little American flags, and following along with the lyrics as I sang was really special.”

Choral Director Ms. Carrie Dietsch, who extended the invitation, saw Carly as a perfect fit for the occasion.

“Carly was a natural choice for this opportunity. She’s an exceptional soloist, but beyond that, she has the kindest heart,” shared Dietsch. “She treats every performance with respect, care, and dignity, but especially this one. I am certain that it was a highlight of the ceremony for those in attendance.”

Carly's love for music began at an early age. She has been singing since she could talk, belting out songs from Katy Perry, Pink, and Bruno Mars—whether at home, at school, or in the backseat of her mom’s car. Her passion for singing showed up at talent shows and elementary school musicals, eventually leading her to join Viewpoint’s Upper School Concert Choir and Voices Now.

Before she graduates, Carly will take the stage for her final Viewpoint performance, starring as Donna in Mamma Mia! running from April 25-27.

“Singing has always been such a big part of my life, and I can’t imagine not continuing it in some way after high school,” Carly said. “Whether it’s through choir, musical theater, or simply performing for fun, I know music will always be a part of my life.”

In addition to her dedication to music, Carly has never let go of her other passion: playing softball. For years, she has balanced her time between the stage and the field, a juggling act that required communication, sacrifice, and resilience.

“I didn’t want to give up one for the other,” she explained. “I had to prioritize big events in each, sometimes missing a practice for rehearsal or a rehearsal for a game. But I always made sure to stay committed to both.”

That commitment has paid off. This fall, she will continue her softball career at New York University (NYU) as a Division III athlete while majoring in Liberal Studies, with plans to transfer to Vocal Performance in the Steinhardt School.

“Being in the city will open up so many job opportunities and career paths,” she said. “I want to be involved in musicals, join an acapella group, and explore music internships.”

For Carly, every performance is an opportunity to grow, and she approaches each with gratitude and enthusiasm.

“I try to take on every opportunity I’m offered because it’s always a learning experience,” she said. “The Naturalization Ceremony was something I’ll remember forever, and I know it’s just the beginning. I’m excited for what’s next.”

Watch Carly’s full performance at the U.S. Naturalization Ceremony here. 

At a one-night-only show, Viewpoint’s Voices Now, our unique performance group of Upper School singers, delivered electrifying melodies and harmonies at the premier music venue, Catalina Jazz Club in Hollywood on Tuesday, February 4. Catalina Popescu, the club’s owner, generously donated 100% of ticket proceeds to support the music and arts programs at Viewpoint. 

"It's truly exhilarating to witness the students' reactions as they step into a venue that regularly hosts renowned artists,” said Bill Brendle, Viewpoint Music Director. “Seeing their faces light up with the realization that they'll soon grace that very stage is the most rewarding aspect of it all."

Under the direction and accompaniment of Brendle, our ensemble of passionate and driven vocalists performed a set of show-stopping solos, duets, and group numbers to a packed house. From classics like "Fly Me to the Moon” by Bart Howard and “Don’t You Worry ‘Bout A Thing” by Stevie Wonder to contemporary hits like “Always Remember Us This Way” by Lady Gaga and “Rainbow” by Kasey Musgraves, the set list featured a diverse range of musical styles and genres.

“Music has the power to heal, unite, and uplift. In times of tragedy and loss, it reminds us of our shared strength as a community.” said Brendle. “Our Viewpoint community came together for an evening of inspiring performances that celebrated the resilience and hope we find through music.”

Doors opened at 7:00 p.m. and guests filed in, greeted by the soft glow of candles on the tables and murmurs of excited chatter. Among the crowd were proud friends and families of Voices Now, Viewpoint faculty, staff, alumni, and music lovers, all eager to experience the magic of the evening. There was a palpable sense of excitement in the air as the sounds of clicking glasses and soft conversation blended with the anticipation of the show.

The 90-minute show opened with a group performance of “I Got The Music in Me” by Bias Bishell and arranged by Bill Brendle. Each voice blended beautifully, a mix of harmonies that seemed to float effortlessly through the air, captivating everyone present. The first half of the show was emceed by Seniors Carly Nelson’ 25 and Nathan Danese, and the second half by Juniors Chloe Brendle ’26 and Jake Roth ’26. The dynamic duos provided entertaining and humorous banter as they introduced each performance.  

Throughout the show, the students delivered a flawless mix of vocal arrangements, adding their own youthful spirit and musical craftsmanship. The audience couldn’t help but be mesmerized by their stage presence and talent. The night ended with a reprise of “I Got the Music In Me” and a special tribute to the eight Seniors in the Class of 2025. The director, musicians, and all of the singers took their bows to a roar of applause. 

Check out the full set list below:

1. Voices Now

I Got The Music In Me - Bias Bishell, arr. Bill Brendle

Soloists: Lily Davis ‘25, Julian Dans ‘25, Julian Thicke ‘28, Jordan De Maria ‘25, Sadie Kieffer ‘26, Nathan Danese ‘25, Jake Roth ‘26, Megan Shaw 25’, Shoshana Lindon ‘25, Carly Nelson ‘25

2. Julian Thicke ’28

“Bored” - Laufey

3. Samson Harrington ’27

(vocal and trombone)

“But Not For Me” - George and Ira Gershwin

4. Ash Chesed ’27

“Dreamer” - Laufey

5. Racheal Chun ‘27

“A Thousand Years” - Christina Parri

6. Jamey Tsugawa ’27

“Rainbow” - Kasey Musgraves

7. Sadie Kieffer ’26

“Creep” - Thom Yorke

8. Sadie Kieffer ’26 and Ella Crenshaw ’26

“Heaven” - Ella Crenshaw ’26

Trumpet solo - Sadie Kieffer ’26

9. Ella Crenshaw ’26

“Meant For Each Other” - Ella Crenshaw ’26

10. Marley Blumel ’26

“We Can’t Be Friends” - Ariana Grande, Max Martin, Ilya Salmanzadeh

11. Megan Shaw ’26

“From The Start” - Laufey

12. Chloe Brendle ’26

“Don’t You Worry ’Bout A Thing” - Stevie Wonder

13. Chloe Brendle ’26 and Jake Roth ’36

“Ain’t No Mountain High Enough” - Ashford & Simpson

14. Jake Roth ’26

“Let’s Stay Together” - Al Green

15. Kaelin Schetter ’25

“Street By Street” - Laufey

16. Shawn Ching ’25

“Fly Me To The Moon” - Bart Howard

17. Jordan De Maria ’25

“Always Remember Us This Way” - Lady Gaga

18. Shoshana Lindon ’25

“L’amour de ma vie” - Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell

19. Julian Dans ’25

“All The Things You Are” -  Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein III, arr. Bill Brendle

20. Lily Davis ‘25

“Since I Fell For You” - Buddy Johnson

21. Nathan Danese ‘25

“A Wink and A Smile” - Ramsey McLean and Marc Shaiman

22. Nathan Danese ’25 and Carly Nelson ’25

“You’re All I Need To Get By” - Ashford and Simpson

23. Carly Nelson ’25

“Something’s Got A Hold On Me” - Etta James, LeRoy Kirkland, Pearl Woods

Background singers - Lily Davis ’25, Shoshana Lindon ’25, Kaelin Schetter ’25

24. Voices Now

“I Got The Music In Me” (Reprise) - Bias Bishell, arr. Bill Brendle

"Voices Now offers more than just music; it's a glimpse into the vibrant spirit of our school,” added Brendle. This performance allowed newcomers to witness something truly special and distinctive, immersing themselves in our rich community to discover what sets us apart from the rest." 

Congratulations to Voices Now:

• Marley Blumel ’26
• Chloe Brendle ’26
• Ash Chesed ’27
• Shawn Ching ’25
• Rachael Chun ’27
• Ella Crenshaw ’26
• Julian Dans ’25
• Nathan Danese ’25
• Carson Eith ’28
• Graham Eith ’28
• Lily Davis ’25
• Jordan DeMaria ’25
• Samson Harrington ’27
• Daphne Huffman ’26
• Sadie Kieffer ’26
• Shoshana Lindon ’25
• Carly Nelson ’25
• Jake Roth ’26
• Kaelin Schetter ’25
• Megan Shaw ’26
• Jamey Tsugawa ’27
• Julian Thicke ’28

On Friday, December 6, the joyful sounds of children’s voices filled the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza’s Kavli Theater, as Viewpoint’s Primary and Lower School students presented their holiday program, “We Are Lights.”  

With enthusiastic and heartfelt performances from each of the classes, as well as the Primary and Lower School Choruses and Dancers, and the Advanced Fifth Grade Strings, the audience delighted in the spirit of the season. In addition to music and dance performances, narrators from the Fifth Grade class shared holiday traditions practiced by cultures around the world and delivered holiday sentiments in eight different languages - Russian, Japanese, Hebrew, Persian, Hungarian, Vietnamese, Mandarin, and Korean.

Viewpoint’s dance teacher Gabrielle Brown, a former soloist with American Ballet Theater, choreographed excerpts from Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker, performed by the Primary and Lower School Dancers, led by Jordan Aaronson ’26, Chloe Brendle ’26, Charlotte Hariton ’26, Isabella Wang ’28, Finn Harrington ’29, Callie Roskowinski ’31, and Keira Pescherine ’31.

“As I celebrate my tenth year as Head of School, I realize just how much I’ve come to love this annual celebration,” shared Mark McKee. “For me, perhaps for you, it kicks off the holiday season, as we hear and sing music together, learn about one another’s families and stories and traditions, and celebrate our students and our connections with one another.” 

During the program, the school celebrated Claudia Antoine, Head of Lower School, who was honored for her 34 years of service and her final Holiday Program before retirement. Recognized for her love of students and the holidays, as well as her ability to uplift those around her, Claudia was thanked and congratulated for her dedication to the Viewpoint community.

The holiday program concluded with Viewpoint’s Giving of the Greens prepared by the VSSA. This annual tradition, in which each child receives a beautiful spray of greens, represents the School’s abiding belief in the continual growth of each student and the warmest wishes for a joyful holiday season.

Viewpoint School recognizes Bradley Gail, Timothy and Christina Gaspar, and Dr. Niniek Purnomo and Klaus A. Woizik for their leadership support in the Viewpoint Fund and their symbolic sponsorship of this event as donors in our Chair's and Head of School Circles.

In a music season opener, Viewpoint’s Upper School Wind and Jazz ensemble took center stage at the Carlson Family Theater (CFT) for their first Concert of the school year on Tuesday, October 15. 

The show commenced with a dynamic performance by the Wind Ensemble/Pep Band, featuring “Elements (Air)” by Brian Balmages. Next, the Senior Conductors for Pep Band showcased their versatility with a series of popular pieces, ranging from “Funkytown” by Steve Greenberg, and “Hawaii Five-o” by Mark Stevens, to “Sir Duke” by Stevie Wonder, and “September” by “M. White, A. McKay, and A. Willis. They smoothly transitioned between genres with “Land of 1,000 Dances” by C. Kenner and A. Domino, “Life is a Highway” by Tom Cochrane, and a standout rendition of “Copacabana” by Barry Manilow, B. Sussman, and J. Feldman.

The student-run jazz combo “The Four and a Half”, consisting of Charlie Luborsky ’26 on bass, Thomas Hemmens ’26 on guitar, Max Zou ’26 on piano, Jasper Hughes ’27 on drumset and Jishnu Mukherjee ’26 on sax performed between the Wind Ensemble and Jazz Ensemble performances. They did a fantastic job.

Closing the night, the Jazz Ensemble performed “Maiden Voyage” by Herbie Hancock, “Back Porch Swing” by Drew Zaremba, and “La Vida Es Un Carnaval” by Victor Daniel. It was great to hear some student soloists during the three jazz numbers.  

Just one week later on Tuesday, October 22, the Upper School Concert Choir, Voices Now, and Orchestra students offered a diverse musical journey that transcended generations and cultures.

Voices Now opened the show, delivering captivating performances of 1940s classic “Java Jive” by Ben Oakland and Milton Drake, a new arrangement of the Brazilian classic “Água De Beber” by Antonio Carlos Jobim, and the iconic “Somebody to Love” by Freddie Mercury. Following this electrifying set, the Concert Choir took the stage, singing “Loch Lomond” by Jonathan Quick, “Dream Ship” by Susan La Bar, and “Ripple” by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul.

After a brief intermission, Upper School Orchestra members played three selections, including “Prelude from the Brook Green Suite” by Gustav Holst, “Lullaby” by William Hofeldt, and “Graveyard Shift” by Chris Thomas. For the finale, the Concert Choir and Orchestra united in harmony for “Gloria In Excelsis” by Antonio Vivaldi.

“Although these concerts were both early in the year, I am very proud of the hard work the Upper Schoolers did to pull these concerts together so quickly,” said Dr. Kristin Herkstroeter, Music Department Chair. “I look forward to a great musical year with the Upper School musicians.”

Immediately following both concerts, our performers and families gathered outside the theater for a reception with sweet treats and hot beverages, generously provided and served by our VSSA volunteers.