On Sunday, June 5, at 4 p.m., 11 singers representing Classical Singer magazine got the opportunity to do something most of us—singers and fans alike—can only dream about: sing the national anthem during the opening of the Mets vs. Giants game at Shea Stadium in Flushing Meadows, N.Y. Linda Priebe of Arrivi Artist Marketing organized and managed the presentation, which featured Dominique Boucard, Kresha Frankhauser, Janette Goleme, Gwendolyne Holman, Danielle Howard, Gina Mayer, Michael Mayer, Loretta Montgomery, Linda Priebe (“Mets-zo” manager), Beverley Vanessa Hill, and Gail Watson singing a new, unique arrangement of “The Star Spangled Banner” by Linda’s husband, Brian.
Singing at the game proved to be an exciting experience from beginning to end. On arrival, officials took us to the greenroom and gave us VIP passes for the dining room and the game. After a short warm-up in the greenroom, we were ushered out to the field for a sound check. Standing there looking out across the field and the sea of seats was exhilarating. We sang through the piece a few times until stadium officials thought we were ready to take on the crowds. Shea Stadium workers who were getting things ready for the game apparently agreed—they gave us a standing ovation!
Buoyed by that encouraging enthusiasm, we were ushered “backstage” again and left for the next two hours to relax, eat, and wander the premises. I chose to spend most of my time in the greenroom, relaxing and getting to know my fellow singers. Sitting there, I couldn’t resist calling some friends and family to brag that I was sitting in the greenroom of Shea Stadium waiting to “go on.”
Soon it was time to “play ball.” Brimming with excitement, we lined up and were ushered outside to our places on the legendary field. Facing the crowd, we sang our national anthem, listening to ourselves as our voices reverberated back through the sound system. In no time at all, it was over, but the applause seemed unending. They really seemed to like us! Many Mets fans went out of their way to tell us how good they thought we were, and more than a dozen members of the Mets organization also made a point of coming over to say, “Great job.”
Wendy Hoffman, mezzo-soprano and photographer, said, “Yes, you guys were great. You sounded just like a well-established group.”
Back in the greenroom, we were on our own to watch the game … we thought—but this exhilarating experience didn’t end there. Mets officials liked us so much that they asked if a few of us would be willing to sing “God Bless America” during the seventh-inning stretch of both games (this was a double-header due to a rain-out on the previous Friday). I agreed to sing as part of a group of three at the four o’clock game. After the sixth inning, the three of us climbed to the top of the dugout, where we sang a second time. Wow! I could get used to this.
The Mets didn’t win the 4 o’clock game—but they did win the 8 o’clock game. (Yay! Oops…Sorry Giants fans). It was the perfect ending to a perfect day.
