Rocking Out with Advanced Rock On

With a spotlight shining on senior Mina Feldman ’25, the 2025 Advanced Rock On set opened with an energetic rendition of Dick Dane’s 1962 surf rock hit “Miserlou.” A purely instrumental song, the melody switched between Mina and Aiden Sun ’27—both on electric guitar—and Charlotte Holmes ’26 on alto saxophone. Izzy Lai ‘27 added shimmering arpeggios on the piano. 

“Miserlou” was popular before Dane’s worldwide success, with roots from the 1920s in the Arab American, Armenian American and Greek American communities who settled in the United States. Students offer factoids, often historical, about the songs on their chosen set list. Indeed, history is built into the fabric of Advanced Rock On as students study music across genres and decades. 

A music elective, the course is designed for experienced instrumental and vocal musicians to hone their performance skills. Students spend the semester deepening their understanding of reading chord charts, tabs, and notation while forging a dynamic, interdependent, top-level band. Students take on leadership roles in song selection, rehearsals, and performance planning. The course culminates in an all-school performance during weekly assembly and the band also plays at the Winsor Commencement Ceremony in June.

Students may enroll in the course more than once and for several band members—including Mina, who performed with Advanced Rock throughout her high school career in 2022, 2023, and 2024—this was another chance to perform for the community on stage in the David E. and Stacey L. Goel Theater. 

Tackling songs like The Beatles’ “Day Tripper” in three-part harmony, sophomores Yara Kaafarani ’27, Aoife Keane ’27, and Anaisha Mallik ’27, led the band’s vocals and choreography. 

The set list spanned decades with music from ’60s pop and surf rock, ’70s soul and folk, ’80s hard rock, 2010s pop.

Before the final song, the band passed out roses to this year’s seniors—Mina and Kenna Schneider ’25—marking their last show before commencement. “Thanks to our sound engineer Zion Roadman, the Technical Theater and Theater Design classes, Mr. Puigbo, our teacher Ms. Brady-Lopez, our family and friends who came to support us, and all of you for being such a great audience!” Yara told the gathered crowd. 

Watch the recording.

Full set list:

• “Miserlou” by Dick Dale
• “Day Tripper” by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, recorded by The Beatles 
• “Superstition” by Stevie Wonder
• “Piano Man” by Billy Joel
• “Ain’t It Fun” by Hayley Williams, recorded by Paramore
• “Any Way You Want It” by Steve Perry and Neal Schon, recorded by Journey

Advanced Rock On musicians and vocalists:

• Mina Feldman ’25 – electric guitar, harmonica
• Charlotte Holmes ’26 – alto saxophone, tambourine, piano
• Yara Kaafarani ’27 – voice
• Aoife Keane ’27 – voice
• Sana Khan ’27 – drum kit
• Izzy Lai ’27 – piano
• Anaisha Mallik ’27 – voice
• Kenna Schneider ’25 – electric and acoustic guitar
• Aiden Sun ’27 – electric guitar and mandolin
• Talia Ziblatt ’27 – electric bass