There will be five special guests, including one from Queens, who will stand behind the microphone before a game at Citi Field to sing the National Anthem this season following an open call.
This marks the third year that the Mets have held the National Anthem competition. About 100 people came for the first round of tryouts. Then, 17 finalists were selected.
Those finalists were invited back to the stadium to actually audition on the field. Although the performers were able to sing a song of their choice during the first round, they had the sing the National Anthem during the final round.
Mets Senior Director of Marketing Tina Mannix, who was one of the judges, said that they were looking for people who were confident, had a good, strong voice and good personality and presence. She also said that, in making selections, the judges were looking for a mix. Mannix said that it is important to show diversity.
Mannix said that each year the contest has been getting bigger and bigger. She said that, by having the open call, it gives other individuals who may not usually have the opportunity to sing the National Anthem at a game a chance to do so.
“You don’t have to know anybody,” she said. “It’s just an open call.”
After the judges made their final decisions, two solo vocalists, a saxophone player and two groups were selected. Among them was Wanda Nash, a resident of St. Albans who works for the New York City Department of Finance.
Nash, who tried out two years ago, heard about this year’s contest while watching the news one night. Following her audition as a finalist, she said, “It was awesome. It felt really, really good.”
Nash is not new to singing before an audience. She has performed gospel songs in Japan, Switzerland and Germany. Nash has also released a CD titled “Marpe: Let the Healing Begin.”
Three other Queens residents auditioned during the final round. They were Astoria resident David Foley, Jamaica resident Samantha Measimer and Ozone Park resident Raeann Walters.
Foley, who has performed in musicals, said that he was more than a little nervous during his audition, but still described it as a great experience.
Measimer, who studied opera in college and is a music teacher, said that she was excited and surprised to find out that she was a finalist. She said that she loved singing and loved baseball.
After Walters’ audition, she said that she wished she could do it again, describing it as an amazing experience. A teacher at Xaverian High School in Brooklyn, Walters is a huge Mets fan. She said that the team’s stadiums have been home to many fun experiences with family and friends.
-With additional reporting by Noah Rosenberg
