This was my second time singing the National Anthem at UW commencement. My 2005 performance was memorable due to the torrential rain during the ceremony, but it thankfully stayed dry in 2006. This is the year I graduated with my Masters degrees and it was a really fun way to commemorate my graduation. And, since I was involved in the ceremony, my family and friends got to sit in the VIP area of Husky Stadium, which had padded seats and free catering!
This is my second performance of the National Anthem for the Seattle Mariners. The challenge of performing in a large stadium without a monitor is hearing a sound delay through the large stadium speakers. By the time the sound I sing into the microphone reaches the ears of the audience, it is about 1.5 to 2 seconds later, meaning I have to concentrate only on what I'm singing, and ignore the sounds coming back to me through the speakers.
I am the Office Manager for the DigiPen Institute of Technology, and was invited to participate in Open Mic Night, which is an event hosted by a student club each semester. I found a great CD at the library called "Karaoke Opera," and selected two more well-known arias to sing for the students and staff in attendance. Little did I know that most everyone in the audience had seen an opera before, which was a pleasant surprise!
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