Backing Beyoncé

Guitarist plays in band at historic Coachella performance.

By Daniel Oyefusi | TERP

"Introduced by the staccato beat of a drumline and the blasts of a powerful horn section right out of a vintage HBCU marching band, Beyoncé strutted onto the main Coachella stage.

"The night—punctuated by flashes from fans’ phones and their awestruck cries—was historic: The superstar was the first black woman and only the third female solo act to headline the music festival in the California desert.

"Guitarist Ariel O’Neal ’16 (second from left, above) stood in the middle of it all as part of her supporting band.

“'I wasn’t nervous when I saw the crowd,' O’Neal says. 'It was like a huge party.'

"She played in Beyoncé’s widely lauded performances on April 14 and 21, nearly two-hour-long spectacles of singing and dancing with high-profile guest appearances. They were the biggest gigs of O’Neal’s young career, and the moments she had been preparing for."

Read the complete article in TERP. 

Photo via Ariel O'Neal.