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Locals sing National Anthem for Express
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Two local singers shone in the spotlight as they performed the National Anthem before thousands of people gathered at Round Rock's Dell Diamond for Express baseball games.
Hays High School ninth grader Ari-anna Martinez had the honor of delivering the anthem at a late August game and HCISD staffer Courtney Deike-Leonard sang over the Labor Day weekend.
Martinez has already accomplished much, according to her former choir director at Dahlstrom Middle School, Tanna Bills. The list includes singing multiple solos at school, receiving a "1" rating for her solo at the district middle school solo and ensemble contest, earning a berth in the Region 18 Middle School Choir, and being selected from a field of 1,000 auditioning students to sing with the 200-member Texas Choral Directors Association Honor Choir.
Admitting that she misses having Arianna, Bills says she knows the young singer "has a bright future at Hays High" with choir director Nancy Cavendish. "She's a phenomenal young lady, and I feel very blessed for having the opportunity to teach her," Bills said.
As for her Round Rock experience, Arianna explains that an audition was part of the process and that she had to wait about a month before being informed that she'd get to perform at a game. The Hays High School vocalist, who performs weekly at Buda's Santa Cruz Catholic Church at the 5 p.m. youth mass, describes the Express representatives she dealt with as "very nice" and says she's looking forward to her first high school performances.
She anticipates trying out for the Hays District Talent Show as part of that first year high school experience.
Deike-Leonard recently raised her local profile with a spot-on delivery of the National Anthem at Hays CISD's 2009 Convocation. As for the Round Rock Express experience, she said, "We had a great time. As usual, I had many family members present who are always there to support me." She's had what she terms the "great honor" of performing the National Anthem at
Dell Diamond since 2004 and adds, "It has truly been a pleasure and I can't wait to do it again next season."
She describes her great admiration for the Express organization that has hosted her on multiple occasions, marveling at the warmth of the front office toward its employees and the family-oriented fun she's witnessed each time she's performed.
,'T cannot tell you how impressed I always am when I visit the Dell Diamond," Deike-Leonard said.
Copyright 2009 The Free Press, Buda, Texas. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from SmallTownPapers, Inc.
© 2009 The Free Press Buda, Texas. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from DAS.
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