When Preston McGurn was a freshman at Johnson High School, he had an idea. Could a student create and run a show for students starring students? His friend, classmate and bandmate, Noah Ruiz, wasn’t sure but was willing to try.
At that moment, Student Run was born.
“We really want to push forward and highlight the power of students within NEISD,” said Preston. “And how students can really come together and create something that’s different and new -- something that is creative.”
That year, they piggybacked off a Johnson percussion concert.
Something they now call "Student Run lite".
It gave them a starting point.
It gave them their first chance to fail.
But it ultimately gave them their first chance to prove they could do it.
That next year, they had a stronger concept.
They had buy-in from administrators.
They had nearly 700 people show up to see their show.
“It’s truly inspiring to see how much dedication and creativity they have poured into these concerts over the years,” said NEISD Executive Director of Fine Arts Julie Shore. “You’ve built something special that has left a lasting impact on NEISD.”
Now, as seniors, Preston and Noah are ready for their final Student Run show: Welcome to Woodstock.
They’ve got students and bands from Johnson, Reagan, Churchill and Roosevelt high schools and students from Encino Park Elementary School ready to showcase their incredible talents.
“We are trying to blend the craft of theatre with it as well as a concert,” said Preston. “We are telling stories through different ways, other than musical numbers. People are acting out characters and such. We’re telling a story through our song selections within the setlist. You’ll hear radio communications from the Vietnam War and stuff that kind of represents the counter culture of the 1960s as well as the switch to the 90s.”
And while the show will no doubt be exciting, Preston and Noah say these shows mean more to them than great music. These shows were lessons. They learned teamwork, set design, marketing and how to triumph in the face of failure.
These shows gave them a glimpse at their futures.
Noah plans to attend college here in San Antonio to learn more about sound engineering—something he’s gotten a crash course in during these student-run concerts. Preston wants to create shows like this for theme parks. He’s headed to college in Georgia after graduation to help make that dream a reality.
“Students here are powerful and can do anything they put their minds to,” said Preston. “The support we’ve gotten from our teachers, band directors, principals and others has meant so much to us. We hope everyone will come out and see how hard we’ve all worked to put together a great show for everyone.”
Student Run: Welcome to Woodstock will be held Friday, April 4, at 7:30 p.m. at the Johnson High School Auditorium.
Tickets are available online, and all proceeds will go to NEISD Fine Arts and the San Antonio Food Bank.
Preston and Noah want to encourage students to follow their dreams and dream big because they can do amazing things if they set their minds to it. They say Student Run is proof.
Preston and Noah are following their dreams and inspiring others the NEISD way.
