Churchill County music teacher Tom Fleming practices with his students during music class with the help from Margot Mills, seated, and Cydne Craig a substitute aide, standing.
The Reno Aces present the Churchill County High School choir with a unique opportunity.
On April 23 the CCHS choir will open the game by singing the National Anthem. The game starts at 7 p.m., and the Aces will play against the Las Vegas 51s.
CCHS Music Teacher Tom Fleming said he is thankful for the opportunity the Aces gave the choir.
“A few years ago, the choir used to sing the Star Spangled Banner at a San Francisco Giants game every year,” he said. “A CCHS grad, Brett McGinness, worked in the Giants’ front office and was helpful in getting the CCHS choir a date to sing. Brett moved on to the Aces and a guy from the Aces contacted me about the choir’s continuing the Star Spangled Banner, only this time at an Aces game.”
Fleming said his students in choir sing the Star Spangled Banner often for school events. The students sing a wonderful arrangement and know it well and are well rehearsed in singing it with fervor and respect, he said.
“The students will practice singing the song together and make sure it’s well prepped for the game,” he said. “I anticipate about 40-50 students, including some from the middle school.”
All CCHS and Churchill County Middle School students and families, as well as everyone in the Greenwave community, are welcome to purchase Greenwave Day tickets (in the form of vouchers) for $12 each.
Fleming said if more than 100 students, families and Fallon community members purchase a ticket for the game through CCHS, the CCHS/CCMS music departments will receive 40 percent of ticket sales from the Aces. If more than 200 tickets are purchased for the game, the music departments will receive 50 percent of the gross sales.
Students who attend will have the opportunity to sing “The Star Spangled Banner” prior to the game, he said.
“The group as a whole will sit together in the beautiful ballpark where every seat is close with a great view of Triple-A ballplayers, many of whom we’ll see playing soon in the major leagues,” Fleming added. “Purchase of ticket vouchers also entitles the holder to special discounts in the ballpark shop.”
Tickets can be purchased from Terri Pearson in the CCHS main office; Lucas Koenig, CCMS’s music educator; or from any CCMS or CCHS student.
On the day of the game students may either attend with their family or ride a bus to the game that depart CCHS at 4:45 p.m.
“That will get them there in time to watch the pre-game batting practice and to set up for singing the national anthem,” he said. “It’s a wonderful thing for CCHS students and for the school ourselves to be part of something so public. ‘The Star Spangled Banner’ at the beginning of baseball games is such a long-standing tradition in the U.S. The students are honored to be able to do it and do it well. Any performance of this nature is great for young musicians — the big crowd, the tradition, the honor of being in service to others through their music.”