Beneath the radiant spotlight’s glow and before the crowds’ curious gaze stands freshman Myles Kelly, singing and strumming along to the tune of his band’s new song Clear Lake.

Over the last several years, Kelly has continued to indulge in his musical side, performing onstage for various venues including Revere High School’s. Having taken part in the Revere High School Variety Show with his former band SLAM in his sixth, seventh, eighth and now ninth grade year, Kelly knows the feeling of being onstage.

Though he knows the feeling of being onstage with SLAM, creative differences ultimately led the band to disbanding. SLAM was strictly a cover band, yet Kelly was interested in creating original music alongside covers. That, along with struggles to find music that made the entire band happy, led Kelly to form another band—Lake District.

“It was weird playing with SLAM. SLAM was a cover band completely, and everybody wanted to do different music. It was kind of weird picking songs, [so] that’s why we don’t play together anymore. Then, when this band [formed], . . . I was kind of like ‘This is going to be original music and certain types of covers.’ We still do covers, but it’s more original [music now],” Kelly said.

Lake District consists of lead guitarist and lead singer Kelly, freshman drums player Sam Hogan, junior bass player and vocalist Nicky Ghiorghie and freshman college student Christian Petit. Hogan, Petit and Kelly were part of SLAM previously. Lake District typically meets once a week, but in preparation for shows, the band makes it twice a week instead.

“[We usually meet] once a week. We’re doing [meets] twice a week now because we have a concert on May 10, so we’re kind of preparing for that [by having meets] twice a week,” Kelly said.

Kelly, being the one who brought Lake District together, works to create most of the original music. Beginning in his bedroom, he creates the band’s music by first utilizing his guitar to create the foundation for the rest of the song. Then, Kelly imagines and builds the other instruments into the song, and he teaches these ideas to his bandmates—aside from Hogan, the drummer.

“It’s usually in my bed, and I play random stuff on the guitar until I find something that sounds kind of good. Then, from that specific chord or that specific pattern, I go off into making a full song for that part. Then I’ll make the rest of it, . . . know[ing] what I want each [instrument] part to do, and then I teach it to [my bandmates],” Kelly said.

Lake District plans not only to perform their music live before audiences in various venues around Ohio, but they have hopes to record songs, too. Lake District hosts practices at Kelly’s house, and in addition to the music room the band spends their practices working in, Kelly also has an in-house studio that he plans to utilize when he records music.

“We usually [play in] bars in little theaters. We’re playing at The Rialto Theater [on May 10], and then we [also] do outdoor community day events. . . . I have a recording studio at my house, so I’m trying to record original music there. Hopefully, I can get stuff out on Spotify eventually,” Kelly said.

For Kelly in specific, no matter if Lake District thrives or not, he will continue to pursue his musical passions.

“The current band won’t always be able to play, so I’ll just play with whoever wants to play, really,” he said.

Kelly’s work with music does not stop at his band, however. He plays guitar and piano, and he showed off his piano abilities at this year’s Variety Show and during the 2023 Revere Players’s Mamma Mia! show. Mamma Mia! was Kelly’s first time working with Revere Players, and he has helped with two shows since. He played guitar during Treasure Island, and he played several roles throughout the recent musical How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.

“I played certain parts [on the piano], so I was in the pit for Mamma Mia!, and then I played guitar for the start of Treasure Island. . . . [The latest musical] was my first time acting, and it’s really fun; I’m excited for next year. I’m probably going to stick with it, doing plays and musicals,” Kelly said.

Revere Players director Sarah Pine knew about Kelly because of his involvement in Players during Mamma Mia! and Treasure Island, but seeing him audition for the musical was particularly exciting for Pine. She also found that Kelly easily adapted to criticisms, which led her to casting him in the musical.

“I remember being really excited when he came in the room because I knew he was someone who was of help during the fall play, and he was such a solid musician. . . . He came in, and he had a really nice voice, but he also took direction from the directors for his audition really well. He was kind of willing to play, and [he was] not afraid to be silly,” Pine said.

Over the course of the months leading up to the How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying opening night, Kelly’s change from the start to the end of the show proved apparent in Pine’s eyes. Integrating into the Players community proved difficult for some, but Kelly adapted well once the rehearsal weeks continued.

“[Some of the growth was Kelly’s] level of being comfortable and being at home [and] not showing some of that nervousness that we saw in the initial rehearsals. . . . After [actors] start to get a little bit more comfortable, you’ll see them start to make choices. They will try something new. . . . That’s something we started to see with [Kelly] as we got through [the show],” Pine said.

Not only does Kelly act now, but he sings, too. As the lead vocalist in Lake District, Kelly utilizes his singing voice in Revere’s chorale program. Next year, Kelly plans to join Revere’s Symphonic Choir and Reverse A Cappella. Revere High School’s choir director Sierra Pabon detailed his developing role in the choir programs.

“[Kelly] is very bubbly, very outgoing, so I feel like it was a pretty quick click into place in terms of getting to know each other. He quickly ascended into leadership positions right at the start of the year. . . . He’s really taken advantage of the skill set in front of him and the people and the resources around him to quickly excel,” Pabon said.

Over the last few years, Kelly’s musical talents have proven life-changing for him. Music serves as a major part in Kelly’s life, and no matter where he stands, his passion for music will continue to flourish. Lake Band played their first show in the Rialto Theater in Akron, Ohio, on May 10.

This story was originally published on Lantern on May 13, 2025.