WINTER PERFORMANCE 2025

why not? connecting music, impact, and joy

Inspired by Kobi Yamada’s, “Why Not?,” our Lower School musicians have been exploring the impact they can have on the world through kindness, curiosity, and community. Each class selected a meaningful organization to learn about and support—these are highlighted throughout OUR WINTER performance. We are grateful for the inspiration each of these organizations have provided, and we are excited to share them with you here!

why not? connecting music, impact, and joy

  • TK: Sonoma County Reptile Rescue

    Founded in 1989, Sonoma County Reptile Rescue offers a full range of services, including reptile rescue/rehabilitation, relocation, adoption, and education programs. SCRR works with animal agencies from 15 counties in the greater Bay Area, handling reptiles in need of rescuing.

  • Kinder: Project Freedom Ride

    Project Freedom Ride's mission is to connect unwanted and abandoned dogs in Texas and Georgia with families and rescues throughout the US and parts of Canada. We are able to help increase the number of lives saved by giving them a second chance with families and receiving rescues outside of their local high-kill states.

  • First Grade: A'layahs lemonade stand

    A’Layah’s Lemonade for Love was created by a foster child who started a lemonade stand to raise money for other foster children for toys/essentials. Her work started a movement.

  • Second Grade: Oscar's Place

    Oscar’s Place rescues donkeys from auctions and takes in donkeys whose owners can no longer care for them. At our ranch in Hopland, California, every donkey receives the food, shelter, medicine, and care they need to heal and thrive. After making a complete emotional and physical rehabilitation, many donkeys find their loving forever home. Others find lifelong care at our sanctuary.

  • Third Grade: Kids against plastic

    Kids Against Plastic (KAP) aims to help young people (and not so young people) to learn about environmental issues such as plastic pollution and the Climate Crisis. Through free resources, initiatives and the awesome KAP Club, we try to inspire and empower others into action.

  • Fourth Grade: Make the switch for nature

    Shawn Miller specializes in capturing the flora and fauna of Okinawa, Japan. When he began seeing hermit grabs living in trash, he need he needed to take action. He carried shells to leave for them so that they could replace their trash homes with the homes nature intended for him. Little changes can have a big impact.

  • Fifth Grade: Alive Inside

    Alive Inside is a joyous cinematic exploration of music’s capacity to reawaken our souls and uncover the deepest parts of our humanity. Filmmaker Michael Rossato-Bennett chronicles the astonishing experiences of individuals around the country who have been revitalized through the simple experience of listening to music. His camera reveals the uniquely human connection we find in music and how its healing power can triumph where prescription medication falls short.

  • Sandi Passalacqua

    Mrs. Passalacqua’s vision for The Healdsburg School was to create a unique independent school that prepared students to successfully navigate the global workplace and community through a program of rigorous academics, service-learning, and character development. Her goal of creating this positive, child-centered school where each student’s individual gifts are seen and nurtured has become a thriving reality. Now, a mere 17 years since its inception, The Healdsburg School is recognized as a premier independent school in Sonoma County.