Derrick Park '25 and Alice Yoo '27
Apr 4, 2025
Disclaimer: Satire edition
From February 10 to 14, in recognition of Valentine’s Day, Mercersburg Academy’s Strings Quartet (MASQ) offered the dedication of beautiful strings serenades. The talented students of MASQ—Thomas Zhu ‘26, Daniel Liu ‘25, Lisa Wei ‘26, and Karin Sugiyama ‘27—brought warmth to the community through their music. As Wei was feeling unwell, Anežka Pospisilova ‘26 stepped in to play the violin. The group’s heartfelt renditions spread love across campus, as both faculty members and students were serenaded during lunch announcements in the dining hall and at various requested locations. But the serenades didn’t stop here.
Some community members took advantage of the anonymity behind the serenade requests in unconventional ways. The love serenades extended beyond campus boundaries, as MASQ privately offered additional musical services to members living off-campus. Liu said, “The delight of music should be everywhere, and MASQ is committed to spreading love and warmth. This private test run allowed us to prepare for a more public offering.”
This trial proved to be a success, as one of the most popular serenade recipients, Michelle Eichelberger expressed her delight in the attentions of MASQ members during her morning commute. “No surprise I was hearing tunes of Can’t Help Falling in Love in between my Scorpions songs. I had no idea they were all crammed together in my trunk. My car rides were always lonely, but I surely shed tears of joy. It was nice finding some surprise company.” Zhu said, “I love the challenge of taking my art into unexpected and constricting places. This proves that all my practice hours are finally paying off.”
With such a successful launch, MASQ has officially expanded its services to the entire community, following a regular schedule. Sugiyama said, “Initially, the serenades were meant to celebrate Valentine’s Day and help people express their love for one another. But we realized that music can bring people together at any time of the year. By making this a year-round project, we hope to foster a warmer, more connected atmosphere on campus.”
According to MASQ, the serenades will take place twice a week—one session on campus and the other off campus. While on-campus performances will continue during lunch announcements, off-campus serenades could happen at any time and location, preferably within the Mercersburg area. Community members beyond the confines of campus should be prepared for an unexpected doorbell ring, as well-dressed musicians may be waiting to perform at their doorstep.
And this is only the beginning. MASQ has ambitious plans to take their initiative even further. Next year, they hope to coordinate with Ms. Parsons and Experiential Learning to expand the service beyond domestic performances, potentially reaching an international audience. Though details remain under wraps, the musicians hinted at exciting future plans. Wei said, “I can’t reveal too much just yet, but we have a major project in mind. If everything goes well with our expanded domestic service, we might just be booking plane tickets and taking our instruments around the world.”