USTA Announces 12 Youngsters To Perform Patriotic Songs at the 2017 U.S. Open

August 21, 2017 | By a94bfb98_admin
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The USTA today announced the names of 12 vocalists, ages 14 and under, who will perform patriotic-themed songs during the night sessions of the 2017 US Open and at Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day. The lineup for this year’s US Open features talent from throughout the New York metropolitan area, as well as from Arizona, Florida and Hawaii.

Returning for the second consecutive year, 11-year-old Kialani Mills, a USTA 12 and Under Tennis player from Litchfield Park, Ariz., will kick off with “The Star Spangled Banner” at the 2017 Arthur Ashe Kids’ Day powered by Net Generation on Saturday, Aug. 26. In addition to Mills, three other performers will be returning for their second consecutive year to perform “America the Beautiful” in front of anticipated capacity crowds during the evening sessions. They are: Brandon Hernandez of Yonkers, N.Y., and two performers from New Jersey, Elijah Morman of Lumberton and Jake Shanker of Tenafly.

This year’s tournament will showcase eight newcomers, with two additional Tenafly, N.J., performers rounding out six from the Garden State. Traveling the farthest to make their Arthur Ashe Stadium debuts are Lucia Fernandez de Los Muros of Miami and Sabia Farag of Kailua, Hawaii. Farag is the first performer from the Pacific Island State and is the farthest-traveling contestant in US Open anthem audition history to sing on the big stage.

2017 US Open Anthem winners, in alphabetical order:

Name                                                Age                 City/State

►Saraya Angbazo                            10                   Tenafly, NJ

►Sisley Carretas                               11                   Dumont, NJ

►Vivienne Coletta                             10                   Malverne, NY 

►Anna Gael Dejano                          11                   Forest Hills, NY

►Sabia Farag                                    10                   Kailua, HI

►Lucia Fernandez de los Muros       12                   Miami, FL

►Brandon Hernandez                       13                   Yonkers, NY

►Dan Kaznowski                                9                    Scotch Plains, NJ

►Kialani Mills                                    11                    Litchfield Park, AZ

►Elijah Morman                                13                    Lumberton, NJ

►Jake Shanker                                 13                    Tenafly, NJ

►Jaden Todd                                    12                    Tenafly, NJ                       

This year marked the 10th anniversary of the US Open Anthem Auditions. The audition process for these coveted spots began earlier this summer, when more than 200 performers submitted performances via a nationwide online audition. A select number of contestants from the online audition were invited to participate in an in-person call-back audition, where they performed in front of a panel of judges from the music and entertainment industries.

Past US Open anthem winners and performers include Frenie Acoba (“Matilda” on Broadway), Angelica Hale (“America’s Got Talent” season 12), and Brennley Brown (“The Voice” season 12).

The US Open is one of the world’s highest-attended annual sporting events, making this a great opportunity for the chosen performers. These children will join the group of music industry leaders who have performed at the event, inclduing Lenny Kravitz, Ariana Grande, Rihanna, Demi Lovato, Phil Collins, Renee Elise Goldsberry, Diana Ross, Art Garfunkel, Aretha Franklin and Tony Bennett. This year’s Opening Night Ceremony will feature global superstar Shania Twain.


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