Do you have what it takes to perform the National Anthem in front of thousands of St. Louis hockey fans before the reigning Stanley Cup champions take the ice?
For the third year in a row, a National Anthem contest will take place to showcase talented St. Louisans, and give a soloist or small group an opportunity to perform before a St. Louis Blues home game.
The game at which the winner will perform “The Star-Spangled Banner” during the 2019-2020 season will be announced at a later date. The winner will also get the chance to join the rotation of National Anthem singers for the Blues’ home games.
The singing competition is a partnership between the Blues and the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, with finalists being invited to audition in-person at Powell Hall before a panel of judges. The blind-audition format is structured the same way musicians audition for the SLSO.
The Blues’ longtime National Anthem singer Charles Glenn, who announced his retirement earlier this year, will be among the judges. He will be joined by St. Louis’ own Kennedy Holmes, who was a runner-up on season 15 of “The Voice,” as well as St. Louis Symphony IN UNISON Chorus director Kevin McBeth, former National Anthem contest winner James Bertels and a symphony musician.
Last year, more than 100 performers entered the contest, and more than 30 of them were invited to the final auditions at Powell Hall. Matt Pentecost, a 34-year-old music teacher in the Maplewood-Richmond Heights School District, was named the winner.
Performers of all ages are encouraged to enter the competition, including soloists, vocal performing groups, instrumentalists and small instrumental groups. To be considered for an audition, performers must first submit an online video entry online at http://bit.ly/32MPxhd before Friday, Aug. 16, at noon.
For additional information and to submit an online entry, visit stlouisblues.com
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