Students from Ann Street School’s Band delivered show-stopping performances on Wednesday, April 9, as they took the stage at Gotham Hall for the 2025 Music Will Benefit Gala. The unforgettable night saw the Ann Street School Spartan’s band share the spotlight with some of the biggest names in music and Broadway.
The gala featured several standout moments for Ann Street School’s talented young performers:
- Mia Lima (Grade 8) and Michael Caballero (Grade 4) performed a powerful rendition of Brave live on stage with Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Sara Bareilles (Love Song).
- Kinze Fortes (Grade 7) and Maite Paucar (Grade 8) were red carpet interviewers, speaking with entertainment legends like Kristin Chenoweth (the original Glinda in the Broadway smash Wicked), Wyclef Jean (of the legendary hip-hop group, The Fugees), and Jackson Browne (songwriter of Doctor, My Eyes, Running On Empty, and others).
- Nickolas Pereira (Grade 8) delivered an electric drum demo performance alongside the Broadway House Band.
- Asaphe Araujo (Grade 6) inspired the audience with a moving speech about his musical journey and the vital role of music in public education.
The Music Will Benefit Gala is hosted annually by Music Will, a nonprofit that supports music education programs in schools nationwide. Ann Street School’s participation this year highlights the powerful impact of music education in Newark Public Schools. Equally as important, the District and Superintendent León were highlighted at the start of the night with their unwavering commitment to arts education.