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GHS Classics Choir to perform National Anthem Friday at Indians game
A group of 23 Greencastle High School students will proudly represent their school Friday on a big stage in Indianapolis.
Before the Toledo Mud Hens and Indianapolis Indians can officially “play ball” in their International League matchup, the Greencastle Classics Choir will take the field to sing “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
The students are excited at the opportunity, even as they’re a bit surprised that “little Greencastle” got such an opportunity.
“I was kind of surprised Greencastle was the school they wanted,” senior Bella Green said.
“We’re kind of small,” fellow soprano Emily Gray, a sophomore, interjected.
“If you were going to pick one choir from the state, I wouldn’t think Greencastle is what you would pick,” Green added.
Senior Andrew Adams, a bass, noted that large schools have choirs that dwarf the 23 members at GHS.
“Our choir is so small that our entire choirs is about the size of a single section at larger schools,” Adams said.
Then again, the GHS Classics Choir might be classified as “small but mighty,” considering that three of its members were just named to the All-State Choir. (More on that in an upcoming edition.)
Under the tutelage of second-year Director Ross Hanson, Greencastle choir students seem to be flourishing,
As for how the honor came to be, apparently a big step was simply asking.
“I found the opportunity through my mom sending me some information this summer,” Hanson said. “The Indians got back to me right away and really wanted us to sing.”
He’s happy for his hard-working students to be rewarded.
“I am super proud of these kids for all the hard work they’ve put in,” Hanson said. “They have grown so much since last year.”
The growth is evident in how the students are thinking critically about the challenges of the venue. They noted the need to make sure their voices blend together well and even the challenges of singing in an indoor venue with good acoustics like McAnally Center — how much more so at a stadium like Victory Field, which is open air and holds upward of 14,000 people.
“The most nerve-wracking part is that I have no idea what we’re going to sound like,” Green said.
“I think it’s a really cool opportunity for such a small school to get out there and get such a big opportunity like that,” Gray said. “I don’t think we’ve had an opportunity like this before.”
“I don’t think we’ve ever really performed outside the school,” Green said of the current choir.
Still, they are certainly excited.
“I think it’s an exciting opportunity, something we wouldn’t normally get,” Adams said. We’re going to work hard to get it right. We have a lot of practice at the Anthem.”
“It’s one of our strongest pieces,” Green added, before Gray noted that they get a lot of positive feedback when they perform the piece at basketball games.
“It’s just a big honor to be chosen,” Adams summarized. “I think Mr. Hanson is going to lead us well. I feel like it’s going to be successful.”
First pitch for Friday’s game is 7:05 p.m. — with the National Anthem, of course, just a few minutes earlier. For tickets, visit www.milb.com/indianapolis.