Music Impacts Community (MIC) had their “A MIC to Remember” concert at the James Theater on February 3. The night was bathed in pink and blue stage lights and featured everything from classical piano to classic rock covers. There were seven acts, all composed of local high school students.
“Playing the music I love with people who understand it [never gets old],” drummer Ethan Kardos ‘27 said.
Kardos played in the opening act, a discordant jazz group that immediately filled the theater with noise and high-caliber musicianship. They were several people’s favorite group and set the tone for the rest of the night.
People of every age and from all over Iowa City filled the audience, and every act was received with enthusiastic cheering and applause.
Ella Stone, a vocalist from West High, performed with Akiho Sugiyama.
“[My favorite moment was] getting to connect to the audience and to the music. It’s always nice to be on stage and hear their applause and know that it’s for you,” she said.
MIC members were flitting around and adjusting equipment all night, but according to Silas Gollnick ‘26, the behind-the-scenes work for this event was fairly relaxed. Kylie Buddin, who works with UAY, set up the sound systems for the night.
“We didn’t really have to do a whole lot and just kind of sat back and let Kylie [Buddin] do his magic,” Gollnick said. “And then [we did] a little bit of programming, reaching out to performers and everything like that. It was a group effort between the James Theater, Kylie at UAY, and the MIC.”
Since 2024, the MIC has been raising money for organizations in Iowa City. The money raised from “A MIC To Remember” was donated to the Emma Goldman Clinic, a not-for-profit women’s healthcare center.
“I was one of the ones who brought [the Emma Goldman Clinic] up. I know that they’d previously talked about it, but I pushed for it. I’m a feminist, I’m a big supporter of women’s rights. One of the greatest places we have in Iowa City is the Emma Goldman Clinic,” MIC treasurer Rowyn Maas ‘26 said.