Students from Burns Middle School’s band traveled to Cincinnati Thursday to play the National Anthem at the Cincinnati Reds Major League Baseball game versus the Chicago Cubs.
Band director April Yonts said that she and assistant band director Lee Davidson usually take a trip with seventh- and eighth-grade students each year, but it is usually to a Broadway show or a performance festival; however, this year, there weren’t any shows they were interested in.
A few years ago, Yonts and her husband, who are huge Reds fans, were at a Reds game where a middle school orchestra performed the National Anthem.
“I instantly put it on my bucket list as a director,” Yonts said. “The Reds are also the closest MLB, so it just all made sense to me!”
Yonts submitted an audition tape from a September performance at the Owensboro Convention Center, and, although she said these students are amazing and have worked hard this year performing over seven events and concerts, she honestly never expected them to be selected.
“We’ve played the anthem for other community events, but never on a national stage,” Yonts said. “We’re pretty excited and nervous.”
While in Cincinnati, the students will not only perform at and attend the game, they will be staying at the Great Wolf Lodge, an indoor water park, visiting the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, Reds Hall of Fame and the Newport Aquarium.
“I’m so glad they have the opportunity to go on trips and have these life experiences,” Yonts said. “It’s easy to love your job when you get to make music and memories with wonderful kids every day.”
