As students prepare for their winter Coffee House performance in December, they will represent themselves and the school through dancing, singing and instrumental playing to create a greater sense of unity among Stillwater community members. This musical event is sponsored by the school’s National Honor Society (NHS) program. All the profits from the show are donated to local charities in the immediate area.
NHS is a group of students with a GPA of 3.75 or higher. These students collaborate to provide community service acts and create fundraisers for the school. Helping at Coffee House allows NHS members to earn their community service hours.
“I think we collaborate with Valley Outreach, which is one of the biggest volunteering organizations and donation organizations in our area,” junior NHS member Reese Bockman said.
Students of all age groups can participate in the Coffee House to showcase their talents and provide others with entertainment and inspiration. This can encourage others throughout the community to build a more well-rounded and supportive group.
Music is a way for people to communicate and reveal themselves to a community. Everyone either listens to, creates or performs music that they enjoy, making Coffee House a great presentation of students and their diverse talents.
Junior trumpet player Greta Lipetzky, who showcased her musical talent twice before at Coffee House in the winter of 2024 and in the spring of 2025 with her sister Natasha Lipetzky, explained that “music brings people together,” making Coffee House a substantial event for all students to join a new community.
Not many students have the opportunity to share their love for music on a daily basis, so Coffee House allows students to express their love and enjoyment of music without being involved in the school’s choir, orchestra or band programs.
Lipetzky explained that these performances are for charity, so there is a meaningful purpose behind each talent. She enjoys listening to and watching each performing act because each one is so compelling and different from the last.
As the winter season approaches, students express excitement for the upcoming Coffee House performance. Students will perform solos, duets and dances, among other activities. These acts of courage are shared with other students, parents and teachers to create a greater school community full of music and technique.
“I think the pressing process is just like practicing and being able to perform in front of an audience, and kind of getting over that stage fear with all your peers watching,” junior NHS member Nick Smith said.
Students of all ages and classes can present and share talent, joy and entertainment. The growing popularity of Winter Coffee House, along with other winter concerts at the school, highlights the student involvement in performing arts and music. With all the past holiday season shows, Coffee House is one of the best acts to increase student participation to inspire all peers that attend. Come see your fellow students share their favorite songs and hobbies at Coffee House.
