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Official Student Newspaper of Henry M. Gunn High School

The Oracle

Official Student Newspaper of Henry M. Gunn High School

The Oracle

Official Student Newspaper of Henry M. Gunn High School

The Oracle

Theo Fong: Songmaking

Theo Fong: Songmaking

Dan Honigstein, In-Depth Editor May 22, 2024

Theo Fong can often be found making music in his room, surrounded by instruments and immersed in sounds and compositions. Though his principal instrument is the saxophone — he plays in a saxophone quartet as well as Gunn’s Wind and Jazz ensembles —he learned the electric guitar in his freshman...

Pregame music primes student-athletes for peak performance

Pregame music primes student-athletes for peak performance

Michelle Koo, News Editor, Graphics Artist February 16, 2024

Freshman Kaila Chen: Cheerleading Cheerleading’s complex choreographies can stir worries about stumbles, memory blanks and potential errors. Freshman Kaila Chen calms her pregame nerves by listening to her favorite songs. It can get stressful at times, and everyone has nerves,” Chen said. “So...

Sleigh bells ring and voices sing: Festive music creates lasting holiday memories

Sleigh bells ring and voices sing: Festive music creates lasting holiday memories

Ellie Yuan, Social Media Editor December 12, 2023

When the final scraps of turkey and stuffing leftovers are eaten, a new season commences: the holiday season. As many begin preparing for the winter holidays, an array of holiday hits and timeless classics plays on car radios and in malls as people go about their holiday shopping. At Gunn, holiday...

Who are the artists hitting the road with Taylor?

Who are the artists hitting the road with Taylor?

Katie Lawer, Sports Editor December 12, 2022

Beabadobee British indie-rock singer and songwriter Beatrice Kristi Laus—known by her stage name, Beabadoobee—has so far released two acclaimed studio albums: 2020’s “Fake it Flowers” and 2022’s “Beatopia.” Born in the Philippines, Laus moved to London at the age of three and quickly...

Students stay in tune with their artistic expression through music: Ankitha Raman

Students stay in tune with their artistic expression through music: Ankitha Raman

Haley Pflasterer, News Editor March 8, 2022

Since she was young, playing and creating music have come naturally to senior Ankitha Raman. As her love for the art has grown, she has developed her skills and formed a new way of expressing her passion for music: writing her own songs. Thanks to her father, Raman’s love for playing instruments...

Students Stay in Tune with their Artistic Expression Through Music: Junior Hannah Qiu

Students Stay in Tune with their Artistic Expression Through Music: Junior Hannah Qiu

Madison Yue, Features Editor March 8, 2022

Before she starts playing the guzheng, junior Hannah Qiu closes her eyes to encompass herself in the mindset of the composer. For Qiu, playing the guzheng—a 21-stringed traditional Chinese instrument—isn’t solely about mastering the technique, but about connecting with her Chinese culture and...

Senior Saman de Silva: Classical Singer

Senior Saman de Silva: Classical Singer

Arjun Shah, Managing Editor March 4, 2022

In middle school, senior Saman de Silva never thought of himself as an artist. Instead, de Silva identified more with his academic interests. That all changed when he discovered classical singing in the summer after eighth grade. Classical singing encompasses both art song and opera. De Silva explained...

Students stay in tune with their artistic expression through music: Sophomore Mariam Kubursi

Students stay in tune with their artistic expression through music: Sophomore Mariam Kubursi

Lise Desveaux, Centerfold Editor March 4, 2022

Singer-songwriter sophomore Mariam Kubursi began singing when she was three years old. She quickly found a passion for it and started writing her own lyrics during the early stages of the pandemic. On most occasions, the lyrics come randomly to Kubursi while washing the dishes or even in the middle...

Staffers debate greatest music genres: Country

Staffers debate greatest music genres: Country

Annika Bereny, Lifestyle Editor December 14, 2021

It’s not uncommon to ask someone what kind of music they listen to and receive the answer, “I like all types of music...except country!” Hating country music has become so commonplace that the anti-country talking points are recycled to the point of being cliché. A common critique of country...

Staffers debate greatest music genre: Jazz

Staffers debate greatest music genre: Jazz

Mia Knezevic, Forum Editor, Photo Editor and Oracle-SEC Liaison December 10, 2021

“It’s dying, Mia. It’s dying on the vine. And the world says, ‘Let it die. It had its time.’ Well, not on my watch.” This quotation about jazz is from the iconic movie “La La Land.” This was my first introduction to jazz and its history, and since then, jazz has been one of my favorite...

Staffers debate greatest music genre: Sea shanties

Staffers debate greatest music genre: Sea shanties

Carly Liao, Forum Editor December 10, 2021

In a time of isolation, people need something to connect with others. For many, that connection comes in the unexpected form of sea shanties. Sea shanties are a subgenre of folk music that were originally created to accompany the repetitive work seamen faced. All the workers on one ship would...

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