What is the sound of Steward? It’s children playing, athletes cheering, musicians practicing, innovators inventing, teachers leading, students performing, and more. 

As Spartans, these sounds are always music to our ears, but now they have been turned into true music. These tones have been woven together, integrated into students’ original compositions, and produced on a new musical album, “Steward x Spacebomb,” which will be released the week of April 27. The album is a collaboration between Steward’s Bryan Innovation Lab, JK-12 students, and Spacebomb Studio, the local record studio of national renown. For now, the musicians are sharing an early sneak preview.

Spacebomb’s founder, Matthew E. White, is Steward’s first-ever Innovator in Residence. From August to April, Mr. White worked with students and Brad Kovach, Bryan Innovation Lab dean of engineering and technology, to record, edit, and produce the album. A group of seniors, including Theo Hirsch ’26, Jack Magrill ’26, Nathan Bridges ’26, and Joseph Wentzel ’26, met once per octo on the project as part of the Bryan Innovation Lab Assistant program. Mr. White shared, “I worked with classes and groups across the divisions to teach about the project; record voices, rhythms, and ambient sounds; and connect the project to their day-to-day musical lives.”

Mr. White also explained the key role Minimester interns played in the process: “During Minimester, I worked with Upper School students Elijah Kauffman ’28, Jacey Turner ’27, Juliet Forlano ’28, Kate Bradley ’28, and Kaylee Morgan ’27 to write and record additional material for the record,” he said. “Elijah engineered, produced, and played clarinet. Jacey and Kaylee wrote a song and composed and sang several melodies for the developing compositions. Juliet and Kate also wrote a song, composed and sang it, and wrote a very memorable rap, which Kate performed. Although working and composing separately in smaller groups, almost all the singing was done together as a Minimester mini-choir.”

The Innovator in Residency is part of our strategic plan, Compass 2028. The album reflects Steward’s core values of individuality, innovation, and inspiration.

“There has never been, and never will be, a musical production like this one,” said Mr. White. “It reflects this moment in time for The Steward School — the students’ and faculty’s lived experience as well as the trends and feelings of the 2025-26 school year.”

Mr. Kovach added, “Through their shared work on this album, students not only learned to collaborate in a very real-life way, but they saw how their work became better together. The artistic expression found on this album will wow you, as will the students’ thoughtful work and talent.”