Last month, the Canyon Club in Agoura Hills was filled with energy as six bands took the stage for the Battle of the Bands—a musical competition with a meaningful purpose. Organized by Olivia Lakhani ’26, the event was part of her larger initiative, Healing Through Music, with all proceeds donated to the American Cancer Society.

“I’ve always wanted to put together an event like this. As someone who’s loved music for a long time, it felt like a dream come true,” Olivia said. “It was definitely a challenge, but seeing the turnout and knowing we were supporting such an important cause made it all worth it.”

But the event wasn’t just about music—it was about bringing students together from different schools for a common cause. The lineup featured musicians from high schools across Calabasas, Camarillo, Ventura, and beyond, turning it into a true community-wide effort.

For Olivia, the cause was especially personal. In 2022, she lost her grandmother to cancer, a loss that fueled her desire to use music as a way to give back.

“Ever since my grandma passed, I’ve wanted to do something meaningful in her honor,” Olivia said. “Music has always been an outlet for me, and I know how powerful it can be in bringing people together. Raising money for the American Cancer Society felt like the perfect way to turn something I love into something that could make a real difference.”

The lineup featured six bands, three of which included Viewpoint students:

• Urban Fallout – Olivia’s band, where she sings, songwrites, and plays rhythm guitar
• The Four and a Half – Featuring Viewpoint students Jishnu Mukherjee ’26, Jasper Hughes ’27, Thomas Hemmens ’26, Charlie Luborsky ’26, and Max Zou ’26
• Black Moon Lilith – Featuring Viewpoint’s Thomas Hemmens ’26
• Secondhand Embarrassment 
• Par-5
• SPAM

“We had over 220 people show up, and we ended up raising nearly $5,000 for the American Cancer Society,” Olivia added. “Each band was competing to raise the most donations throughout the night, and Par 5 ended up taking the top spot.”

Looking ahead, Olivia hopes to host another Battle of the Bands later this year, potentially expanding the event and securing additional sponsors. With a generous sponsorship from HIBYE Coffee and support from the Guitar Center Foundation, the future looks bright for Healing Through Music.

“I’ve learned so much from this experience—about planning, outreach, and the importance of trusting others to help,” Olivia said. “This was just the beginning.”