Each year, SkillsUSA holds video auditions for those members interested in singing the National Anthem at the opening ceremony of the New York State conference. This year, NCTEC (Niagara Career and Technical Education Center) Animation, Film and Visual Effects students Ryan Butler (Starpoint), Emma Correnti (North Tonawanda) and Cameron Craggs (Lockport) entered and were chosen to perform at the event in April. All three students have been singing since a young age, performing in various chorus ensembles, as well as middle school and high school musicals. Ryan has also performed professionally in several local theater productions.
Animation, Film and Visual Effects instructor Jennifer Manning says the National Anthem was already a bit of a tradition in her class, as students had been jokingly singing it after the Pledge of Allegiance each morning. “I have several performing arts student in my senior class, most of whom had been singing the National Anthem in chorus for years. One day after the Pledge, the entire class just spontaneously broke out in song, with perfect four-part harmony, and sang the entire Anthem. It was hilarious and magical, and it became part of the morning routine a regular basis from that point on. When we heard about the Anthem competition for SkillsUSA, it was a perfect fit. Three students decided to audition, and practiced for several weeks. The entire Film & Visual Effects class was involved in the process of helping the students to prepare, and assisted in the filming of the audition video that the team submitted for consideration.”
The students are very excited to have the opportunity to perform at the opening ceremony to kick off this year’s New York State SkillsUSA competitions in Syracuse, and hope to make Niagara Career and Technical Education Center proud.
Check out their audition video below!
Photo Caption: (LtoR): Cameron Craggs, Emma Correnti and Ryan Butler.
Starpoint Central School District