Could your school choir be next?
Local school choirs take part in the ballpark’s program
Elementary students from the Cherry Creek School District took the field at Coors Field on Aug. 22 before the Colorado Rockies faced the Cleveland Guardians. Members of the Creekside Crooners choir stood along the outfield warning track and sang the national anthem before the game. It marked the choir’s second appearance at Coors Field after performing there last year.
The Rockies offer local schools and community groups opportunities to perform the national anthem before Major League Baseball games. Several public school districts across Colorado, including the Cherry Creek School District, participate in the Rockies’ national anthem programs. Local choirs, bands and church choirs also take part.
Anthem performances are held about 10 minutes before first pitch near the main video board in left field. Choir members, along with participating family and friends, receive access to discounted tickets.
The Rockies also use Coors Field as a setting for school group outings, fundraising and educational field trips. The programs give students and families who may not regularly attend sporting events a more accessible way to experience professional baseball.
Ashley Devine, the music teacher at Creekside Elementary School who led the Creekside Crooners in their second Coors Field performance, said she was proud of the students for singing confidently in front of a large crowd.
“I’m so proud of our choir members for standing up there and singing the national anthem on the field,” Devine said. “Because of seasonal colds, some of the students and I weren’t able to sing the way we normally do, but I’m grateful they handled the pressure and performed so well.”
Before the game, choir members and their families gathered at Gate E. Parents offered words of encouragement, telling students to do their best on their first professional stage and saying they hoped to see them on the video board. The students received purple Rockies T-shirts at the ballpark before heading to a field-level holding area.
Parents then moved to a viewing area near the field to watch the anthem performance. The section normally requires a designated ticket, but choir families and friends were allowed temporary access until the performance ended so they could take photos. Families watched players warm up before the game while waiting for the students to take the field. Some also received autographs from players who came near the fans.
After the performance, the Creekside Crooners returned to their families.
“It made me really happy to sing in such a big ballpark,” said Aria Jewell, a member of the Creekside Crooners at Creekside Elementary School. “It felt special to feel the strong energy from the crowd.”
Devine has now led four Rockies national anthem performances. Her first experience came while she was working in the Douglas County School District.
“The Rockies have a strict selection process for choirs, so preparing for the first national anthem performance was not easy,” Devine said. “Now that I’ve had several experiences at the ballpark as a director, it feels much more natural.”
She added that Colorado music teachers interested in bringing their school groups to perform can check the Rockies’ National Anthem page and contact the team directly or ask their school district about available opportunities.
The Rockies also hosted STAR WARS™ Night during the game. Fans wearing Star Wars costumes filled the ballpark, while the video board and in-game entertainment featured Star Wars themes. Rockies mascot Dinger and Star Wars characters also appeared during an inning break.
On the field, the two teams combined for three home runs. The Guardians’ Jo Adell hit a 450-foot three-run homer in the top of the fourth inning to give the Guardians the lead.
For the Rockies, Mickey Moniak hit a solo home run, and Connor Norby added another solo shot later in the game to bring the Rockies within one run. Two of the Rockies’ three runs came on home runs.
The Guardians defeated the Rockies 4-3. Colorado closed the gap to one run late in the game but was unable to complete the comeback.
By Susan Lee | Colorado Times
