By ZEINAB NAJM
Times-Herald Newspapers
DEARBORN — As Stout Middle School students stepped off the Comerica Park field, one shouted, “What just happened?”
The school’s 26-member choir made up of seventh- and eight-graders had the opportunity to perform “The Star Spangled Banner” prior to the Detroit Tigers’ game against Oakland April 26.
“It is an experience they will never forget,” Stout Middle School Choir teacher Jim Walters said. “As middle schoolers, they don’t get many opportunities like that.”
The opportunity was brought to the attention to Walters when a parent saw a flyer from the Tigers about performing the national anthem.
Walters then recorded the choir singing in the school’s auditorium and submitted the Youtube link via email in the beginning of April and waited for a response.
Six days later, Walters received an email that said the choir earned the chance to perform prior to the April 26 game.
“The students were absolutely thrilled and excited,” Walters said. “They were hugging each other and jumping up and down when I broke the news.”
The students along with Walters and about 50 family members attended the game to perform and watch the Tigers play.
“It was a great time and a lot of fun for everyone,” Walters said. “The crowd was very responsive to the performance.”
(Zeinab Najm can be reached at [email protected])