San Dimas High School’s annual Coffee House fundraiser was finally brought back, with the talented performers singing under the warm glow of string lights, and the audience gathered around on the eve of Valentine’s Day. Hosted by the choir program, the event transformed D9 into a cozy café-style stage, with steaming cups of coffee in hand and sweet treats on the tables–all in support of the school’s choirs. A successful fundraiser and a sweet night filled with the warm hues of pinks and reds, soloists singing, playing instruments, and even performing an original song.
The choir’s student director, Soft Washburn, and president, Bella Nazaryan, worked hard to bring back the choir department’s annual fundraiser Coffee House, which was temporarily stopped due to COVID-19. They are excited to resume the fundraiser, allowing more student solo opportunities while earning funds for the program.
Senior Soft Washburn called the night “a gorgeous show,” praising the middle school performers and fellow altos who auditioned, while Bella Nazaryan reflected on the event as “a full-circle moment,” bringing back a beloved choir tradition they both had been part of as middle schoolers.
Coffee House consists of many different soloists performing their own unique song, poem, or any composition for an audience, with a similar feel to an open mic night and a smaller concert. This year’s performing soloists were Karina Camera, Christian Figueroa, Allison Pirir, Xyle Abaya, Soft Washburn, Isabella Vargas, Bella Nazaryan, Layla Lopez, Angela Pawluk, Isabelle Price, Brijon Lewis, Mikaela Jovellanos, Julian Gonzales, and Elliot Choi.
The event took place on the night before Valentine’s Day, which provided a potential outing for the holiday, and also took place during a storm, in which the performers did an amazing job maintaining a cozy atmosphere. With the program’s jazz ensemble opening the night and the talented soloists following, the crowd was delighted with how Coffee House debuted.
Along with the unique and marvelous music and the cozy ambiance, there was complimentary coffee provided for the guests, and sweet treats on sale to enjoy while watching the performances. All the profit from the ticket and snack sales go toward the choir program and financial support for upcoming trips, like the approaching Hawaii tour in 2026 for instance. Fundraisers like this allow many more students to join trips and tours to participate in once-in-a-lifetime experiences.
So with the enjoyment of both the soloists and audience, it’s safe to say that Coffee House 2025 was a sensational success, as a performance and a fundraiser. Curious on what it has to offer? The choir program greatly encourages everyone to attend the next Coffee House to experience for themselves the astonishing talent and hard work contributed to such a unique and atmospheric event.
