Horizon: Recalling a Magical Evening

Some evenings feel special even while they’re happening, and Horizon — DLRC’s musical — was exactly like that. My day started off pretty casually on November 21, 2025. I went to my friend’s house in the afternoon so we could get ready together, but the moment I stepped into Horizon around 5:30 pm, everything shifted. The entire ground was covered in a hazy golden glow from the setting sun, as if it were a warm, glowing filter.

The ambience was honestly perfect, but what made the evening truly come alive was the music and the people behind it.

Two tall floodlights lit up the field from either side, and the stage looked beautiful with all the musical equipment — guitars resting on stands, microphones, a drum set and a piano being set up. A thin net separated the audience from the busy backstage area, where performers paced around nervously, warming up their vocal cords and checking the time. One of the performers from Grade 12 later admitted that “the event was stressful,” especially because of the anticipation and responsibility that came with performing in front of such a large crowd.

Kids sat on mats right in front of the stage, parents settled into benches further back, and senior students hovered near the entrance, ready to cheer loudly for their friends. Near the shed area, piles of bags and purses formed a growing mountain as people rushed to grab seats for a better look at the performers onstage.

Before I could even settle in, I’d already met so many people.

The first being to greet me was Zoya, the little brown puppy who kept trying to sneak onto the ground for food scraps and pampering. Then came waves of friends, and after a lot of bickering and repositioning, we somehow managed a full Grade 11 class picture.

Later, when I ran into Aman sir, he summed up the evening perfectly, “This musical evening was the biggest success of them all, both in terms of footfall and the performers.”

That felt especially true the moment I heard the cover of “Someone Like You”. The two singers, Kiara from Grade 9 and Anya from Grade 10, performed with incredible vocals and emotional depth. Their voices blended smoothly, staying steady even under the pressure of a live audience. Knowing that many performers were internally anxious, and that waiting for their turn and coordinating with sound engineers was nerve-wracking, made the performance even more impressive.

Later, I wandered toward the yoga-shed area where the food stalls were buzzing. I bought a brownie from Pranshu (Grade 10) and Parthiv’s (Grade 11) stall, which was unexpectedly delicious. Between performances, I overheard a few of the volunteers discussing the sound levels and mic feedback, reminding me that a lot of technical managing was happening behind the scenes while the audience simply enjoyed the music.

As the night went on, one performance completely stole my heart: “Iris” by the Goo Goo Dolls by Ayatee, Saanvi, Asmi and Anya from Grade 10 and Uma from Grade 9. The combination of vocals, guitar, keyboard, and drums created a professional concert-like moment, one for which my friends and I sang along with far too much passion and earned a few judgmental stares from parents. That only made the moment more memorable!

The last performance I stayed for — "Guitar Romantic Search Adventure” by the Wallows — had an indie-rock vibe, with unique vocals, catchy rhythms, and crazy guitar strums by Garv (Grade 12), Ayatee (Grade 10), Asmi (Grade 10) and Aarin (Grade 11). The crowd was completely engaged, clapping and cheering between verses. Under the floodlights, the performers looked confident and relaxed — a visible contrast to the nervous energy many of them had felt earlier in the evening.

By 7:30 pm, when I decided to leave, the field was still glowing brightly. Families remained seated, kids ran across the mats, and music continued drifting through the air. The event felt well-managed and alive, something even the performers acknowledged, describing it as “very well managed overall.”

Walking out, I realised how these evenings — the music, the chaos, the nerves before performing, and the joy after, become memories we carry with us long after. And I’m really glad Horizon was one of mine.

By Tanvi Thombare, Grade 11