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At Deerfield, the Greer Cafe has become a cornerstone of student life. Whenever open, students can be found ordering food and conversing at tables nearby. Here are the top 5 Greer items ranked! Chicken Caesar Wrap A versatile item that can be a filling snack after cocurric or a last-minute dinner, the chicken caesar wrap is a choice that won’t disappoint you. These wraps also appear at Wednesday walk-through lunches, so be sure to not miss those meals! Chicken quesadillas Yet another walk-through meal item, chicken quesadillas are a perfect choice to snack on or bring to a game. They’re delicious, mess free, and quick. Get some guac on the side and this meal will be hard to beat! Poppi soda Poppis are one of the most popular sodas on campus. The Raspberry Rose and the Holiday Cranberry flavors are a new twist on a refreshing drink that is perfect after practice or a sunny spring day. Nothing beats that popping sound and fizz. Froyo A healthy and scrumptious alternative to ice cream, you are bound to find your favorite froyo out of the many flavors available. Froyo always hits right, no matter the season; be sure to sprinkle on some toppings! Strawberries and Nutella A tried and true combination that can’t go wrong. Whether on a hot day or you just trudged through a foot of snow to the Greer, this item is something you do not want to miss. These large cups of strawberries don’t have a single faulty one—they must only select the finest!

YONG DING/DEERFIELD SCROLL April Fools’ Day came and went at Deerfield this year, and despite the constant surveillance of the Student Life Office, some students found ways to “fool” others. Since I live in Doubleday, I was in the middle of all the chaos. Which, in turn, allows me to rank some of the better pranks that took place around Deerfield this year. 1. The Marriage. Did you go to school meeting on the first of April? For those who missed it, sucks to be you (you probably didn’t get a 96 on that math quiz anyway). Here’s a recap: A highly publicized wedding was interrupted in an act of passionate love! 2. Febreeze Bombs This journalist is very disappointed to report that fart bombs now constitute vandalism. Well, people have been creative, as Deerfield students often are. As Steve Jobs stated, “Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower.” Clearly, Deerfield is chock-full of future leaders. In a move of sheer genius, some freshmen decided to construct their very own “Febreeze bombs,” turning the hallways into a chemically induced war zone. 3. Baby oil shenanigans Door handles were slippery that day. 4. The Refrigerator A group of sophomore boys had the genius idea to dump out the contents of a refrigerator at the foot of an innocent freshman’s room. Expired milk, peanut butter, jelly, chocolate milk, and an assortment of unrecognizable foods! It is difficult for me to report on this incident as the traumatic smells continue to haunt my nightmares. 5. The Conversation Starter Cards Unfortunately, these were quickly disposed of before some had the chance to enjoy them. According to my sources, someone who claims to be from Deerfield’s “best satire magazine” swapped out the conversation starter cards at the tables. They were … very interesting, at best, covering topics that will not be discussed in this article. An honorable mention goes to the Student Life Office, which managed to keep a sense of peace during April Fools' Day. However, the innovation and creativity of Deerfield students prevailed as always!

COURTESY OF THE CSGC OFFICE Three pillars define the Center for Service and Global Citizenship: global studies, sustainability, and service, according to Jordan Brown, Director of Summer Programs and Assistant Director of the CSGC. CSGC programming—from trips to summer grant opportunities—allows students to gain “three p’s,” Associate Director of the CSGC Office Beatrix Giraldo explained. “Place, perspectives, and participation … I like those lenses,” she said. The office’s trip offerings for the 2025-2026 school year include previous destinations such as Spain, Germany, and France, as well as new ones such as the Galapagos Islands. Mr. Brown said that the trips give students an opportunity “they couldn't otherwise experience on their own.” Ms. Giraldo added, “It's learning. It's hard work.” Two to three teachers usually lead each trip. “They go beyond their role in caring for the students, and in caring about the learning experience, they put in so much time. We couldn't do it without them,” Ms. Giraldo explained. Deerfield developed strong relationships with other institutions and organizations through communication, trust, and mutual interactions. For example, the trip to the Bahamas is hosted by the Island School in the Bahamas and their research center, Cape Eleuthera Institute. “Thanks to the partnership, we are able to connect with the scientists and to expose students to real field research while visiting the school,” Ms. Giraldo said. Another example is the trip to the Dominican Republic. Math Teacher Sheryl Koyama not only led the trip for years but also served on the board of a local Dominican organization partnering with Deerfield, Cambiando Vidas. Ms. Giraldo emphasized the program’s focus on local, authentic, and direct interactions through the community-based and local economy beneficial activities across all trips. During the trip preparation process, the leaders aim to find partnering programs with deep local knowledge. When they’re choosing hotels, they make sure those are locally owned so the trips contribute to the local economy. “That’s what we want our students to experience, a very direct contact with the culture and the language,” Ms. Giraldo said. The Academy’s partnerships with organizations shape the trip experience, but the students also contribute, encouraging their younger peers to be active and involved. According to Mr. Brown, this sense of community and willingness to support other Deerfield students continues even after graduation. “[This spirit is] the reason a lot of people choose to come to Deerfield,” he said. Graduates pause and support the current peers; current students look forward and help the community. This process of finding ways to help the people around is challenging yet rewarding, Mr. Brown described. “It's important that we're all continuing to push ourselves outside of our comfort zone, learn new things, and make new connections,” he said. Associate Editor for the Scroll Rory Hartblay ’26 extended his interest in food security through the CSGC grant program. Partnering with a local farm in California this past summer, he helped make and distribute locally grown food. Reflecting on the impact the program had on him, Hartblay expressed his appreciation for the meals Deerfield dining hall prepares. He noted that many areas across the country lack access to three meals a day. “I got a better understanding of why it’s important to think about gratitude and why we’re so thankful to have access to food ourselves,” Hartblay said. For students thinking about their own involvement in the summer grant program, Hartblay suggested, “[Do] a bit of investigation into your own community and see what’s lacking.”

As winter season comes to an end and spring approaches, Deerfield’s fields and courts begin to fill with energy once again. Every game day is built on weeks of preparation, early practices, team meetings, and developing chemistry. This spring break, athletes from Golf, Lacrosse, Baseball, Water Polo, Softball, and Rowing travelled to various locations to refine their skills and prepare for the upcoming season. Conversations with the captains and players across all six teams manifested a common theme: the preseason trip was more than just improving their performance; it was about strengthening the bonds central to Deerfield’s athletics. For many teams, connections developed as much off the field as they did on it. The baseball team, for example, Captain Jack Welch ’26 described how the team’s trip built chemistry beyond practice creating space for those bonds to form naturally. Spending time together as one unit “helped a lot… just being around everyone, sharing every meal together… in a non-baseball setting,” he added; the camaraderie is expected to be carried into the season, with players becoming more comfortable “holding each other accountable… to create a winning culture.” A similar emphasis on connection appeared in the rowing team. Girls’ Rowing Captain Ariana Djunic ’26 explained that the team’s biggest improvement was learning to move as one unit, “putting the team first… making sure the boat was moving fast. It’s not like yourself moving faster.” In rowing, a sport defined by synchronization, this shift toward collective performance is essential. To build unity, the rowing program focused on bringing the entire team together. Boys’ Rowing Captain Sasha Djunic ’26 described how preseason integrated new and returning athletes. “We tried to… do a lot of things outside of rowing… so that everyone felt like they were a part of it,” he said, with the goal of becoming “one boathouse instead of a couple boats.” Activities like team meals and a trivia night helped create connections that extended beyond individual lineups. Other teams focused more than integration and were forced to adapt in different ways. Boys’ Varsity Lacrosse Captain Cooper Brozek ’26 pointed to limited field time due to weather as a key challenge. Still, the team adjusted, “We found a new field… and made the most of the practices we could get in,” he said, “Each day… relationships start to build.” Even with those setbacks, consistent time together allowed relationships to develop. Across all the teams, preseason trips helped shape how athletes are approaching the season ahead. For rowing, that means measuring progress against strong competition. Ariana Djunic noted the team’s excitement to “see what we can do against our strong competitors… and how we improve over the course of the season.” For baseball, the focus is more direct. Welch emphasized a shared goal of competing for a championship, adding that the team is “excited just to… get on the field with everybody and win some games.” At the same time, preseason carried added significance for senior leaders. For Sasha Djunic, it was an opportunity to set a standard that lasts beyond this year, with an emphasis on “pass[ing] on the tradition and community to the younger guys… so they can hopefully pass it on.” Taken together, these experiences reflect a consistent outcome across Deerfield’s spring teams. While each program approached preseason differently, they all pointed to stronger relationships, clearer goals, and a more connected team environment heading into the season.

COURTESY OF DEERFIELD COMMUNICATIONS For years, Deerfield and Brunswick Boys’ Varsity Lacrosse have been widely regarded as one of the most intense rivalries in prep school lacrosse. For the past four years, Brunswick has consistently won. However, on March 28, Deerfield ended Brunswick’s four-game winning streak by triumphing in a nail-biting 9-8 victory. The game was packed, as students, faculty, and parents from both Deerfield and Brunswick filled the stands. Since many people were in attendance, the tension and pressure for both teams to perform increased greatly. Lucas Ward ’28, a sophomore new to the program, played in this game as a goalie for the first time in the season. He expressed his feelings going into the game, “It was a little nerve-wracking… but I was confident … because the defense had my back and I know the coaches believed in me so the nerves went away really quick.” He later described the post-game celebration, saying, “After the game, it was chaotic, everyone was on a high after beating Brunswick.” Throughout the first half, Justin Scalzo ’27 performed well at faceoff, which led to goals from Giacomo Chapman ’26 and Kellar Kelusky ’27. The game started out in Brunswick’s favor, and at one point, Deerfield was down 5-8. Despite the early deficit, they did not give up. A spectator of the game, Winnie Underwood ’28, described her experience watching and noted the tension throughout the game. “Because both the Brunswick and Deerfield parents were there, there was a lot of built up tension which made it even more exciting especially because no one knew what the result of the game was going to be,” she said. As the score tightened, the atmosphere around the game became more nervous, and each second made every play more critical. By the fourth quarter, Deerfield regained momentum and narrowed the gap when Cooper Brozek ’26 scored three goals in the second half. The intensity on the field was matched by the energy on the sidelines, and by the spectators as well. The Academy came back as they tied the score, with the goal made by Kellusky making it 8-8, with under a minute remaining. The teams’ desire to win was clear as they fought to maintain the tie, and hopefully close out with a win. Dean of Ethical & Spiritual Life PhilRel Teacher and Assistant Coach Jan Flaska commented on this deficit, “If you want a chance, you can’t be behind by much. You may not be winning, but keeping it close gives you a chance.” The team truly desired to possess this chance, as they continued to persist in continuing the tie. In the final moments of the game, Brunswick attempted to regain control, but Deerfield’s defense, led by Henry Oliver ’26, Leif Anderson ’27, and Jarron Crosbie ’26 stayed strong. Ward mentioned the power of the defense, saying, “[The defense was] big, they’re able to get the ball out and cover some of Brunswick’s big players.” With 27 seconds remaining on the clock, Griffin Cepiel ’26 scored the game-winning goal, which sealed the victory for the team, with the final score being 9-8. Flaska admired Cepiel for this goal, but also noted, “In lacrosse, there can be unassisted goals, and assisted goals. The last goal was a team goal. It was a goal by many.” Describing the game-winning goal as one “by many” reflects the success and harmony of collaboration that Boys’ Varsity Lacrosse maintains. Ward also described the animated energy of the players after they left the field: “After the game, it was chaos, everyone was on a high after beating Brunswick.” This victory placed Deerfield above Brunswick in ranking, demonstrating a victory over one of the most decorated teams in the country. Deerfield successfully moved up from 8th to 4th in the country after this victory. The team’s bond also increased after the match. Anderson highlighted the team’s chemistry, saying, “I think we have a very well-rounded team and guys play their roles very well to come together and work as a unit, but we are always striving to be better than the last game.” As Anderson described, the team’s success was due to their ability to work together.

THIJS WITTINK/DEERFIELD SCROLL DP Pope ’26 is a postgraduate student-athlete at Deerfield Academy this year, competing in the following three varsity sports: football, wrestling, and baseball. For Pope, sports have been a constant part of life for as long as he can remember, shaped by his family background and early exposure to athletics. From a young age, Pope was inspired by his college athlete parents. He described an “unspoken rule of having to play a sport in every season” in his family that required him to play a sport each season, something he said kept him active and helped him build connections with others. His father introduced him to all three of his sports, and Pope began playing tee-ball at age five. By second grade, he had already developed a strong interest in football, which would later become his primary focus. Following in his father’s footsteps, Pope is now deciding which school he wants to pursue college football at. Pope’s journey was interrupted last year when he suffered a knee dislocation that sidelined him for his entire senior season. The injury forced him to step away from competition at a time when he expected to be fully active in his final year. After his recovery process began, a friend who knew both Pope and Deerfield introduced him to the postgraduate program. Pope decided to apply and spend an additional year of high school athletics and Deerfield Academy, returning to competition in a new environment with a new team. This fall, Pope joined Deerfield’s varsity football team and quickly made an impact. One of his most memorable moments came early in the season against Phillips Academy Andover in a home game that marked his return to competitive play. “I was a little hesitant coming back from injury,” Pope recalled. “It was the fourth quarter and I got the ball at the five-yard line, and I took it in for a touchdown. That was my first time on the field in about a year, so being able to score the winning touchdown and be with my Deerfield brothers meant the most to me.” His performance after recovery stood out not only because of the moment itself, but because of the example it set for teammates. Sam Peake ’28, also a running back, said Pope’s approach to recovery and competition left an impression on younger players. “As a fellow running back, I couldn’t have asked for a better mentor,” Peake said. “Even though we only played one game together when we were both healthy, it was so awesome to see how hard he's worked to recover from his injury.” Beyond his performance on the field, Pope also became a steady presence in the locker room. Teammate Crosby Fay ’28 remarked, “DP is one of the most mature and humble people I have ever been around and this rubbed off on the entire locker room. As an older guy, he served as a mentor for many of the underclassmen and still does months after the season.” His dedication to the sport has most definitely rubbed off on many of the younger players, helping the team grow all together. As his time at Deerfield continues, Pope said he has tried to focus less on individual outcomes and more on the habits built through athletics. “I think playing sports teaches a lot of discipline,” he said. “Same with school and other rigorous tests, there’s a lot of effort and work put behind the scenes in order to see those results whether on the field or in the classroom. It takes a lot of time, dedication, especially when no one’s watching you.” Pope’s athletic journey has inspired development on and off the field, shaping him into the person he is today. With his high school athletic career nearing its conclusion, Pope is still in the process of deciding where he will continue playing football at the college level. For now, he remains focused on finishing his final Varsity Boys Baseball season strong and contributing to his team in any way he can.

ALBERT YUK/DEERFIELD SCROLL When Mr. Hamilton learned that he had been selected as Deerfield Academy’s next Dean of Academic Affairs, his first reaction was “tremendous gratitude.” The appointment followed a comprehensive search process that began with a Thanksgiving application and moved through multiple rounds of interviews with faculty and senior administrators. He noted that the process was intentionally uniform and thorough–a reflection of the importance of the role as Dr. Bruder prepares to step down next year. Mr. Hamilton spoke candidly about following Dean of Academic Affairs Anne Bruder and Former Assistant Head of School for Strategy & Planning and Former Dean of Faculty Ivory Hills, referring to them as “immensely tough acts to follow.” Still, he expressed deep appreciation for the mentorship he has received. “My relationship with Dr. Bruder has been the most meaningful of my professional life,” he said, noting that she consistently encouraged him to take a “student’s-eye view of our academic program” and to question assumptions about how learning happens. Students say that perspective is already visible in his classroom. Anne Kelly ‘27 described him as “very engaging” and said he “cares a lot about the subject he teaches,” adding that he makes “a class like history, especially U.S. history … interesting.” Even when covering topics like economics before lunch “in the middle of winter,” Kelly recalled, “he would start shouting at random points,” making class a “lot of fun” and keeping everyone energized. Looking ahead, Mr. Hamilton believes independent schools stand at a crossroads. “We’re looking at an especially perilous yet promising moment in the history of secondary education,” he said, citing disruptive technologies, declining literacy, and disaffection with civic life. Yet, he remains optimistic about Deerfield’s future. His goal, he explained, is to “preserve what we’re doing that works really well and also to reimagine what school should look like.” Drawing on his experience as the History and Social Science Department Chair, Mr. Hamilton emphasized the wisdom and generosity of Deerfield’s faculty. “My colleagues are really motivated by love – by real love,” he said. He hopes that strengthening that spirit of collaboration will define his leadership in the years ahead.

April 1st: NASA’s Artemis II Mission set off on a journey around the Moon for the first time since Apollo 17 launched on December 17, 1972. Three American astronauts (Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, and Christina Koch), along with Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen, were selected for the mission on April 3, 2023 (NASA). April 6th: Artemis II broke the record for being the farthest human-carrying shuttle from the Earth at 252,756 miles (NASA). April 7th: A special election in Georgia’s Fourteenth Congressional District results in Clayton Fuller (Republican) beating out Shawn Harris (Democratic) by 11.8 points, a leftward shift of over 25 points compared to Marjorie Taylor Greene’s win in 2024. In addition, an officially ‘non-partisan’ judicial election in the swing-state of Wisconsin was held, and Democrat-aligned attorney and former State House member Chris Taylor was elected over Republican-aligned judge Maria Lazar. This election brought Democratic control of the Court to 5-2, and definitively so until at least 2030, based upon the number of elections with incumbents until then (NYT). April 8th: After U.S. President Trump threatened Iran that “a whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again,” the two countries negotiated a two-week ceasefire meant to calm down tensions and bring about a peace treaty (NYT). April 10th: The Artemis II astronauts made it safely back home after landing in the Pacific Ocean. Afterward, The USS San Diego sailed the crew from the capsule back to the shore. April 11th: U.S. Vice President Vance traveled to Islamabad, Pakistan, to negotiate with Iranian leaders, the main goal being to coerce them to capitulate and remove all nuclear material (BBC). April 12th: The 2026 Hungarian Parliamentary Election was held, where Prime Minister Victor Orbán (FIDESZ-KDNP) lost to Péter Magyar (TISZA). The latter won a supermajority of mandates (141 out of 199) and knocked the former out of his 16-year prowess as head of state. The election was a grave choice for Hungarian citizens between allowing the survival of the pro-Russian, far-right, Euro-sceptic FIDESZ-KDNP party and the more moderate-right pro-European, anti-Russian TISZA party (NYT). April 12th: Vance left Pakistan without a peace deal after a 21-hour talk (PBS). April 13th: The U.S. Navy started a blockade of Iranian ports with ships attempting to travel through the Strait of Hormuz (WSJ).

From the top floor of the Main School Building, Associate Head of School for Student Life and Language Teacher Amie Creagh and Assistant Athletic Director and 10th Grade Class Dean Drew Philie answered the question, “What are the top three things stolen on campus?” “Bikes, Scooters, Food,” responded Mr. Philie. “Food, Scooters, Bikes,” said Ms. Creagh, rearranging the order of the short list. Stolen items on campus have been a longstanding issue, from unlabeled food to electric scooters suddenly going missing from charging ports. Many students have expressed their frustration with their belongings getting stolen on campus; in Layla Abdi ’28’s case, it was first her friend’s bike and then her own bike from the outskirts of Harold Smith. “The first instance, I was using my friend’s bike, and I’ve been using it for a couple days, but she didn’t have a lock on it, so I parked it discreetly behind my building so that no one would take it,” she explained. After finding out that the bike was stolen, she eventually found it broken outside of the Athletic Complex. “It’s not that bad this year because Shipping got moved to the Chen so we have security cameras,” said Mina Hata ’29, “but it might still happen from time to time.” At the Academy, community remains a central part of the culture, Ms. Creagh and Mr. Philie described—but stealing disrupts the core value of trust shared around campus. “I think that we have a pretty trusting community. I think if you look at this place in comparison to maybe other boarding schools and college campuses, this is a place where we know each other here,” Mr. Philie said. He added, “That said, I think we’re seeing that less and less, right? And so, we make it a big point to talk about these things at our school meetings, and on a daily basis, which I think are good reminders for our students as we share the same space and we’re part of something bigger than ourselves.” He brought up the point that Deerfield students are living in a shared environment, one that requires them to be conscious of their choices. As Ms. Creagh pointed out, “It’s when you’re thinking ‘this thing’ is more important to you than anybody else ... ‘I’m putting myself above everyone else at this moment.’” Today, she feels that the overall student culture overpowers instances of stealing. “Those rare moments of ‘self-first’ are kept at bay by the kids making thousands of decisions to create the culture we have now,” she said, adding, “I hope a kid who steals something recognizes that they are an outlier and that they feel somehow, like, ‘Wait a minute, this thing I’m doing here is not helping me build the culture I want to live in.’” The Student Life members emphasized the importance of students not just living in the culture they want but actively contributing to its creation.

THIJS WITTINK/DEERFIELD SCROLL On April 12, the Reed Gallery held the opening reception for Shuttered Light by Albert Yuk ’26. Composed of a collection of photographs, the exhibition invites viewers to consider the biases and authenticity of what the media chooses to portray. From the direction of the Concert Hall, the first photographs showcase a film set in Beijing, deliberately staged to simulate a real-life war scene. However, as viewers move through the gallery, the scenes behind the photographs shift toward documenting real wartime environments in Israel and Iran. By contrasting staged war scenes with real ones, Yuk uses the exhibition to convey the presence of media bias. “It was my intention to make that distinction confusing, because in the modern world, media kind of skews that portrayal, and it doesn't really portray these things accurately themselves,” said Yuk. The scope of Yuk’s photography extends beyond the exhibition itself and encompasses his travels to Israel, Iran, Kazakhstan, Afghanistan, and more. Starting in the winter of his sophomore year, Yuk began working for Liu Heung Shing, a Chinese photojournalist who won the 1992 Spot News Pulitzer Prize. During breaks from school, Yuk traveled to the Middle East, where he photographed from the front lines of active conflict zones. Despite his commitment to photography, Yuk’s artistic journey began under the influence of his eldest brother Alan, a sculptor and painter. “I feel like I got exposure to the arts at a very early age because of that,” said Yuk, who originally followed in his brother's footsteps and painted for 8 years. Yuk, however, expressed that he hated drawing and painting, describing them as “boring,” and instead chose to pursue photography, “a route that [he] liked” due to the movement and storytelling it allows. In his gallery, Yuk sought to capture the story of freedom and liberty in a photograph entitled “Intersection of Tradition and Modernity,” his personal favorite. The photograph depicts a man suspended in a crane, looming over the Freedom Tower in Iran. Constructed in 1971, the tower was built prior to the start of the Iranian Revolution in 1978. To Yuk, who believed that individuals had greater liberty before the revolution, “it’s just really interesting to see the Freedom Tower in a composition that is being caged with clouds in the background.” He further elaborated on the piece's symbolism, explaining that the scene represents “freedom and liberty being caged.” Although Yuk aimed to depict symbolic moments in his photographs, he also documented ordinary scenes from day-to-day life. Yuk referenced a photograph entitled “Warrior’s Respite,” which depicts a woman sitting outside a kitchen while a man cooks inside. “My mom said that this was her favorite piece,” he noted, “because she liked the fact that the man, instead of a woman, was cooking in the kitchen.” His mother’s interpretation aligned with Yuk’s intention when capturing the photo, which also aimed to convey the underrepresentation of women fighting in war. Though Yuk’s photographs engage with ideas of media bias, their selection and arrangement for the gallery were originally unplanned. “I definitely wouldn’t say that I took these photos for a gallery, but rather how I configured them in such a way that made sense for a gallery,” said Yuk when commenting on the construction process. Throughout the process of assembling Shuttered Light and Yuk’s time at Deerfield, Visual and Performing Arts teacher Tim Trelease has supported Yuk as one of his four-year students. From studying Intro to Photography and Filmmaking during his freshman year to serving as a teaching assistant for the AP Photography class, Yuk has worked with Mr. Trelease throughout the different phases of his artistic journey. Beyond teaching him technical skills, Mr. Trelease has also encouraged Yuk to experiment with filmmaking and other forms of photography that were previously new to him. Yuk’s experience studying photography at Deerfield, coupled with his experience living in Hong Kong and Shanghai, has made him increasingly aware of what he described as a veil of misinformation throughout the media. Through this assembled series, Yuk said in reflection, “I was trying to convey that veil and make people more aware of how present that veil can be.”

Consisting of 14 members, the Honors Chamber Music program is an advanced course that provides music students with a space to study and perform repertoire by renowned composers in small ensembles. Meeting as a regular class, day-to-day rehearsals center around the repertoire at hand. Members have the opportunity to practice in small ensembles with a rotating staff that includes Director of Music Thomas Bergeron and teachers from Deerfield’s professional music faculty. Outside rehearsals, students are encouraged to engage with other musical works and study various composers. Under such exposure, they can broaden their musical knowledge and engage with a variety of music genres. Three-year chamber student Julie Yan ’26 emphasized this quality, saying that “[She has] gotten the opportunity to engage with different types of music [she has] never played before and interact with musicians who play different instruments than [she does].” Students often experiment with different instrumentation ensembles ranging across music from different time periods. Having played in both a string and piano quartet as well as a cello and clarinet quintet, Yan has recently been rehearsing an octet by German composer Felix Mendelssohn, which has been one of her favorites. On the other hand, fellow chamber student and flutist Iris Zhu ’28 has been practicing in a trio, experimenting with more contemporary pieces centered on modern jazz. Given the variety of musical styles, members are consistently demonstrating their progress through performances for their peers. By giving and receiving feedback, they take the initiative to lead self-driven rehearsals in preparation for performances. “Students can take ownership of the music and take ownership over what they want to do,” Yan explained. “Throughout the piece, we stop and talk about how we feel, which makes me feel heard as a musician.” Since the program’s practices consist of three to four people, members express that they can truly bond with one another. This structure not only strengthens relationships among students but also contributes to their growth as musicians. When commenting on her favorite aspect of the program, Zhu said, “My favorite part about chamber music is how small the group is because I can work with other instruments and really delve into the music.” Reflecting upon her previous experience in an orchestra, Yan said that the chamber program in comparison feels “so much more special because the community is so tight-knit, which helps me understand the music better and grow as a collaborator and soloist.” In these small groups, the music instructors stress the importance of playing as a cohesive unit. Although the focus is on musical techniques and maintaining a dynamic balance with peers, students emphasize that Mr. Bergeron prioritizes connection with other musicians, which helps enliven the piece onstage. These connections extend beyond the music alone. Through bonding with classmates in the chamber program, rehearsals become something students look forward to. “Rehearsals end up being really fun. It is just a really fun time, and although it is a huge time commitment, rehearsals help me relax after a long day,” said Yan. At the end of each semester, students showcase the pieces they have been working on in a cumulative Chamber Music Showcase Concert in the Elizabeth Wachsman Concert Hall, open to the public. In addition to the three integrated performances throughout the year, the ensemble has traveled to New York City to perform a joint concert with the Advanced Vocal Ensemble and Band at Carnegie Hall. This May, chamber students have been invited to The Metropolitan Museum of Art to perform at a Deerfield fundraiser along with the Deerfield dance and vocal ensemble. Although members in the Honors Chamber Music program may not pursue music as their eventual career, they walk away from the experience having grown as both musicians and collaborators. “Whether or not I do chamber music in the future, chamber has taught me a lot about who I am as a musician,” reflected Zhu, who added that “[she is] inspired to practice music throughout [her] next two years at Deerfield.”

On Friday, April 10, Deerfield’s Vocal Ensemble Class took a two-hour drive to Boston, where they sang the National Anthem at TD Garden during the Boston Celtics game that night against the New Orleans Pelicans. With the game officially starting at 7:30 PM, the students departed immediately after Period Three in order to commute to the stadium, warm up, and shake out their nerves. The chaperones were Choral Director Michael Pfitzer, Piano Studio Director Yu-Mei Wei, Math Teacher Marc Dancer, Science Teacher Julia McClellan, and Dining Hall Purchasing Manager Roger Doiron. In addition, the ensemble was accompanied by Deerfield Alumna Vivian Wan ’25, who currently attends Tufts University. Planning for the event involved extensive preparation, with Rob Hale ’84, a part-owner of the Boston Celtics and Deerfield Graduate, helping to facilitate the occasion. Once official, Dr. Pfitzer received the Celtics’ information on the date, and Director of Athletics & Co-Curricular Program Bob Howe and other administrators supported the students attending the Celtics game. Dr. Pfitzer remarked, “It was a whole campus system of support that allowed us to do this and take advantage of the opportunity.” As planning continued, Dr. Pfitzer and the other vocal teachers worked throughout the year to perfect the Star-Spangled Banner, a ninety-second song. Though he mentioned how “a normal 90-second song might get very boring to rehearse over and over again,” Dr. Pfitzer maintained that “the students were very excited, and we could repeat it a number of times without it getting boring.” He also noted that “We had some people who were very experienced, and some people who had never sung in choir before, so I always liked to try to have experienced people sing with people who have less experience so students can learn from each other.” With the stadium’s capacity exceeding 19,000, the performance at TD Garden was a significant increase in scale for many singers, whose biggest audiences have been at Deerfield concerts. In addition, the lack of a mic or sound check while performing with a small military band heightened the students’ anxiety. During rehearsals, Dr. Pfitzer began each rendition by singing the opening of the anthem before the other students joined in, and the ensemble replicated this progression during their performance. “The students did a really nice job of paying attention and connecting with each other,” he said. “Some students told me they were feeling very nervous, but everyone was very focused and locked in.” During the game, the students purchased dinner from the concession stands and stayed for the entire game, returning in the wee hours of the morning. Though such an opportunity entails significant commitment and responsibility, class members remarked that they loved the experience and, despite being prohibited from taking photos on the court, still enjoyed spending long periods of time with the basketball players. In particular, Adriana Enriquez ’28 acknowledged her nervousness at the time, while still noting that “the actual performance was actually quite good,” and that “it was a nice thrill.” The video of the performance (though NBC Sports Boston has not shown the Anthem since 2021) will be sent to Dr. Pfitzer in due course for all Deerfield eyes and ears to watch and listen.