SOMA Rocks Brings Down the House, Raises Funds
The Local Heroes band and CHSMPA raise over $18K for Columbia High School Music Programs
CHSMPA is proud to announce that SOMA Rocks, its biggest fundraiser of the year, blew past its goal of raising $18,000. A freezing January night and pre-blizzard jitters couldn’t keep a sold-out crowd away from The Woodland, where the unstoppable headliner, The Local Heroes, welcomed a star-studded roster of Broadway talent to rock the house and support music at Columbia High School.
This year’s show was all about ’90s nostalgia, and the crowd was there for it. After a killer opener by CHS’s own Cougar Marching Band Drumline (including percussionists playing quads upside-down), The Local Heroes warmed up the night with a selection of pre-turn-of-the century crowd pleasers, conjuring iconic acts ranging from the Cranberries to N’Sync.
The lineup of stage and screen stars included: Becky Gulsvig (A Beautiful Noise); Kevin Kern (Finding Neverland); Manu Narayan (Company); Graham Rowat (Dear Evan Hansen); Joanna Young (The Drowsy Chaperone); Danielle Ferland (Into the Woods); Jared Zarilli (SUMMER: The Donna Summer Musical); and Ben Thompson (Dear Everything. In addition, local singing legends Kat De Bari (lead singer of Marry the Sea), Alex Jones (lead singer of the bands Gravy Train and Water Towers) and Jeiris Cook (solo artist) rounded out the guest list. As always, The Local Heroes band’s Charlie Pollock (The Great Gatsby) and Diane Davis (Harry Potter and the Cursed Child) lead the festivities. See the performers’ bios and impressive credits—here.
The Local Heroes band, who organized and backed up the night’s incredible lineup, are SOMA’s own Charlie Pollock, Diane Davis, Matt Katz, David Pohl, Dave Shields, Dave Macarone, Mark Litwin, and special guest Tom Gregorio.
SOMA Rocks is in its sixth year of showcasing SOMA talent to benefit music at Columbia High School. But SOMA Rocks is more than just a fundraiser for CHSMPA; it's a night of camaraderie and a celebration of our community's passion for music.
CHSMPA extends its deep gratitude to The Local Heroes and all the guest performers who shared their talent, donating hours of hard work to prepare for this show. CHSMPA is also grateful to our sponsors, who help make this night possible.
We also want to thank everyone who got a ticket, bought some beverages, and rocked out all night for supporting our student musicians and their teachers. Special thanks go to Mr. Peter Bauer, the Cougar Marching Band Director and Director of Bands at Columbia, for treating the crowd with the drumline in the middle of winter. Thanks also to Mr. Frank Sanchez, Mr. James A. Manno and Coach Winstead at Columbia and SOMSD.
And of course, CHSMPA would like to thank its members and volunteers for the countless hours organizing and working the event and for providing piles of donated supplies.
Check out The Essex Daily News coverage of our huge night here.
Couldn’t get a ticket to SOMA Rocks or ready for more? Save the date for BeatFest, the freeform student music showcase festival that will return to Ritzer Field on May 28, 2026. Watch this space!
