REDWOOD CITY, CA (August 15, 2006) – Matt Nightingale says it was one thing to be a high school student leading the national anthem to kick off an “Ethnic Festival” in South Bend, Indiana, but his upcoming performance is a whole other ball game.
Nightingale will stand by himself before 70,000 football fans at Monster Park in San Francisco to sing “The Star-Spangled Banner” prior to the San Francisco 49ers game against the Seattle Seahawks on November 19.“I can’t really imagine singing for that many people,” says Nightingale, who is the pastor of music and creative arts at Peninsula Covenant Church. Still, he says, “It’s an honor to sing a song that is considered almost sacred in our country.”
Nightingale earned the opportunity when the 49ers held their second annual open auditions. He was one of eight singers chosen from hundreds of applications.
Nightingale had to submit a recording of himself singing “The Star-Spangled Banner” a cappella, along with an application and headshot. Judges narrowed the applicants to 30, who each sang before a panel of judges. Following a long break, the judges announced 12 who would vie for the eight spots.
“It was a crazy weekend for me—so stressful,” Nightingale says. His band played the night before at a club in San Jose, and then opened for Sara Groves at Peninsula Covenant the night of the auditions.
Singing the national anthem at the stadium will present its own stresses. First is the song itself. “I’m nervous about starting on the right note,” Nightingale says. “The range of the song is pretty intimidating. If you start too high or too low, you’re finished.”
The stadium also presents problems for singers. “They have warned us all to really stay focused. Your voice is echoing all over the stadium. It’s important to just listen to the monitor in front of you and go for it,” he says.
As if the song and the stadium do not present enough challenges, Nightingale says, “I guess sometimes there are fireworks and airplane flyovers.”
If the singing conditions aren’t the best, the date proved perfect, Nightingale says, because the Seahawks are coached by Mike Holmgren, who is a member of Mercer Island Covenant Church in Mercer Island, Washington. “Of course, I’m rooting for the 49ers,” he adds.
Copyright © 2011 The Evangelical Covenant Church.
