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WPHS Songwriters Club anniversary reunion strikes a chord across generations

Two women perform in front of mics

For one evening, the White Plains High School Songwriters Club turned back the clock.

A smiling group three poses for a selfie in a brightly lit hallway with people and seating areas in the background.

The club celebrated its 26th anniversary June 5 with a reunion concert that brought alumni musicians back to the stage alongside current students, creating a musical journey that launched in the year 2000.

During the first major reunion since the club’s 10-year celebration, graduates from as far back as 2002 returned to perform original songs and fan favorites, sharing the spotlight with current members who continue the tradition today.

The extravaganza reflected the vision established when the club was founded by longtime teacher Dennis Polanco, a prolific guitarist, singer and songwriter whose mission statement from the first Songwriters Showcase remains a fixture in every program.

Five people stand in a hallway with light-colored walls and doors in the background.

“We, the Songwriters Club, are a collective of eclectic and vibrant musicians at White Plains High School, who hope to exhibit the wonderful diversity of music found at our school.”

That spirit was on display throughout the evening as alumni returned to perform songs that once echoed through WPHS. Behind the scenes, students handled everything from lighting and sound to camera work and program production, helping make the anniversary celebration a true community effort.

The joyous evening served as a reminder that while graduation may take students in different directions, the connections forged through music can endure for decades.

 

The performers:

  • Tim Robbins / Eager Sails with Sam Stauff (vocals-guitar) and Jeremy Scuderi (drums) (Class of 2005) — “Learn to Love Yourself”
  • Lauren West (Class of 2006) with Tim Robbins — “Love You Better”
  • John Hollohan (Class of 2007) — “Stuttering Angels”
  • Keith Brunson (Class of 2010) — “Mi Casa”
  • Seann Cantatore / Flounder Warehouse (Class of 2011) — “Assume”
  • Ivan Polanco (Class of 2011) — “The Space She Needs”
  • Kristen (Class of 2017) and Andrew Cignarella (Class of 2011) — “Hello”
  • Jada Crump (Class of 2018) — “Riot/Just Like Me” by Summer Walker
  • Jane Grace (Class of 2018) and Diego Gallego (Class of 2019) — “Stars from the Backyard”
  • Zaida Polanco (Class of 2022) — “Playlist”
  • Milla Telesmanic (Class of 2024) — “I Can’t Help It”
  • Malisa Trueblood (Class of 2023), Elika Trueblood (Class of 2025), Amara Woods (Class of 2025), Brian Guedes and Nick Bucaj (Class of 2026) — “That Band”
  • Angela Bediako (Class of 2026) — “Hate It, Love It”
  • Nick Bucaj, Brian Guedes and Amara Woods — “Walk” (Pantera)
  • DND / David Dunn, Noah Walters, Dan Soto, Gabe Korin and Nathan DaSilva (Class of 2024) — “Doodle Jump”

The production team:

  • Programs: Selene Jimenez, Jane Mitschele
  • Lighting: Charlotte Flora, Dominic Flora, Angela Bediako
  • Gaffers: Alexa Leclere, Sebastian Casanova, Joshua Kase
  • Sound: Viviana Gerontzos, Ariel Rojas, Malcolm Woods
  • Security: Charlotte Flora, Dominic Flora, Ryan Briceno, Andrew Guest
  • Camera: Stella Khachetoorian
Five young women stand together in a hallway, with a sign reading "UPPER G" visible in the background.
Two smiling young women pose in front of a large window overlooking a school building and grounds.
A group of young men and an older man pose for a selfie in a dimly lit room with stage lighting in the background.
A man with curly hair and white sunglasses holds a microphone to his lips in the foreground, while a dark, indistinct background is visible behind him.
A woman with dark hair and a guitar sings into a microphone in front of a dark stage with drums visible.
A woman sings into a microphone while a man plays a guitar in the foreground, with a dimly lit stage in the background.
A man sings into a microphone while playing an acoustic guitar, with a dark curtain in the background.
A young woman with curly hair sings into a microphone on a dark stage.
A man plays a guitar and harmonica on a dark stage.
A bald, bearded man in a dark t-shirt holds a microphone in the foreground, while a cymbal and a dark background are visible behind him.
A woman with blonde hair and an orange tank top plays a red Gretsch guitar and sings into a microphone against a dark background.
A bald man in a t-shirt plays a bass guitar and sings into a microphone on a dark stage with a red chair visible in the background.
A large group of people pose on a stage in front of a black curtain, with musical equipment in the foreground.
Two smiling men pose for a selfie in front of a plain, light-colored wall.