Music has always been a way to connect people across generations and backgrounds. By sharing their favorite genres, songs, and artists, MHS staff invites students to explore new sounds and enhance their own musical journeys.
Describing his music taste in three words as “mixed, eclectic, and random,” English teacher Tonichi Lorenzana has a diverse taste in music.
“Generally, I like to listen to a broad mix of stuff depending on my mood, but Spotify Wrapped always tells me that Pop, R&B, and musi- cals are my top three.” Lorenzana said.
He suggests Filipino artists De- cember Avenue and Moira Dela Torre for their beautiful melodies and heartfelt lyrics.
Every person, ever, just like ever born, should listen to the full “Thriller” album at least once in their lives,” Lorenzana said. “Mi- chael Jackson is the king of Pop for a reason.”
Science teacher Charles Schletz- baum has a class playlist with over 7,000 songs. Schletzbaum previ- ously played drums in a garage band called Five Dead Republicans as well as trombone in a marching band. Favoring 80’s and new wave punk, he recommends self-titled records from The Clash, The Ra- mones, and The Sex Pistols.
“There are just too many songs and types of music for me to list; they are literally endless,” Schletz- baum said. His perspective on mu- sic as a constant in students’ lives is equally profound, calling it “the soundtrack of their lives.”
Biology teacher Kelly Ho de- scribes her music taste as upbeat and catchy, gravitating towards more mainstream artists like Frank Ocean, Kanye West, and Justin Bieber. Special education teacherJennifer Garcia expresses her lovefor music through her personal ex- periences, memories with her kids and friends. She deeply connects with island music, ’90s R&B, and hip-hop.
“Music sometimes defines our students’ lives or moments in life that they may be expe- riencing,” Garcia said. “It can be sad, motivating, fun, energizing, etcetera.” Whether it’s through the beats of pop, soulful melodies of R&B, or timeless classics of rock, music is a bridge that brings our school community together.
As Mr. Lorenzana reminds us, “Life is too short to not try new things. Listen to new things, and if you don’t like them, it isn’t the end of the world. You never know what artists might speak to you.”