It was a night to make Palo Alto proud, as 135 students from Addison Elementary School filed onto the field at AT&T Park to sing the national anthem
photo by Matt Williams
before a home game between the San Francisco Giants and the Pittsburg Pirates on June 1st. Despite the weeknight schedule, hundreds of Addison parents and family members came to see their kids take center field and nail the tough notes of the Star Spangled Banner (even a harmony section too!).
Check out this fantastic video of the evening, with montage of AT&T Stadium, players warming up, kayakers in the Bay and more…
SF Giants + Addison= a great annual tradition
This was the fifth time that Addison has been invited to sing the national anthem for the San Francisco Giants, and the annual outing to AT&T Park has become a tradition that is greatly anticipated by both parents and children. Addison’s volunteer choir teacher, Joanna Finnis, led Addison’s effort to audition for the Giants in 2011 and works with the children each year to help prepare them to sing. Anyone can participate, but the children have to attend mandatory practices during lunch and recess in order to be part of the group that walks on the field in San Francisco. “The kids really take ownership of getting ready to sing,” Joanna said. “Every year I’m so proud of how well they both perform and represent Addison- it’s a highlight for all of us.”
Palo Alto Perry came along too!
This year the kids were excited to bring Palo Alto Perry to AT&T Park and onto the field for the anthem singing. The stuffed donkey has become a fixture in Palo Alto and the Addison kids loved carrying him around and posing for photos. He also visited Addison during the day before driving up to San Francisco.
Palo Alto Perry prepares to sing with kids from Addison Photo by Palo Alto Pulse
We couldn’t get a quote from Perry, but he appeared to be having just as much fun as the Addison kids and parents on this special night!
Perry in the Addison teacher lounge Photo courtesy of Palo Alto Perry
Wonderful event for Addison and Joanna Finnis is a wonderful leader and her musical skills are special indeed. I would expect that Perry was as proud as he should be! Congrats to Addison singers.
Schatze thorp
[…] Elementary received a lovely write-up in the Palo Alto Pulse in regards to performing the National Anthem at a Giants baseball game. Lucky me gets to spend […]