Joining together once again at Chicago’s annual Lollapalooza music festival in Grant Park, attendees from all over the city and beyond gathered to witness another musical movement. Peppered throughout the crowd were the students of Jones College Prep, enjoying unity and friendship no matter what their taste in music might be. For these students attending this concert, it is more than seeing their favorite artist.

“I definitely think music is a form of art because art is an expression, rather it’s visual or audible. Music is just another way to express yourself through songwriting, sound, and composition. There’s so much that goes into it, and at the core, it’s all about expressing yourself and what you want to create,” said Lennon Salcedo-Avila ‘26.

The festival highlights how music impacts the high school experience in a deeply personal way. Standing with your friends, feeling the vibrations of the bass and being blinded by lights; there is nothing quite like the experience.

“Music is something you can listen to help articulate your feelings and emotions even when you don’t know how to, so I think it’s a really good outlet for stress and emotions that you can’t say how you feel, but you can listen to it,” said Sydney Rosen ‘27.

Students at Jones blend together in the space that Lollapalooza provides. Being given the space to share and enjoy each other’s music tastes and experiences will strengthen the community our school thrives on.

“I feel like people are really helping each other,” said Morgan Thielke ‘27. “Even if I accidentally knocked into someone, they’d say it’s okay. In a different environment, people might get upset, but here, everyone is going to the same thing for the same reason. It’s very comforting.”

For Jones students, Lollapalooza is a bridge for inclusivity and understanding. There’s an artist for everyone’s taste, and using music as a way to bond with fellow students over their similarities and differences is important for the community. From the beginning, what was once an alternative music festival has turned into a global hub of music, new artists making their debuts, old favorites making one of their last stops to our city, and international stars. In 2025 alone, headliners included Olivia Rodrigo, the Chicago Youth Symphony, Tyler the Creator and over 165 more.

“I think it’s compelling how we all gather together to listen to lyrics,” said Salcedo-Avila. “We’re all listening to the same thing, but interpreting it in different ways. It brings us together—it’s just music, but it’s also much more.”

For the last 20 years, Lollapalooza and so many other festivals alike, unite people of all walks of life to a collective interest. One that doesn’t require any kind of language, membership or background to enjoy and share. How lucky Jones students are that the city of Chicago celebrates these differences and provides the space to thrive in these creative spaces.

“We all got along and connected through the music we have shared experience with,” said Salcedo-Avila.