Sunny Hills choir sings at National Anthem Project

Dozens of Sunny Hills choir singers traveled to the Seattle Center on May 26 and May 27 as part of the National Anthem Project, an effort to "restore America's voice through music education." The students-32 on Friday and 25 on Saturday, all patriotic in red t-shirts-sang the Star Spangled Banner live for the assembled crowd and for cameras that tapped television segments for the local King-5 and national ABC news shows.

Sunny Hills music specialist Don Clausen became involved in the event as president elect of the Washington Music Educators Association, a chapter of the National Association for Music Education, which created the National Anthem Project.

The Project includes a road show with stops at most major cities across the U.S.A.; when students sing the Star Spangled Banner, they are showing pride in the nation's anthem as well as highlighting why two-thirds of American adults don't know the words-it's not being taught in schools because of cuts in comprehensive music programs. The road show events include interactive games, an instrument petting zoo, and guitar displays.

Clausen began each Sunny Hills choir concert with the singing of the Star Spangled Banner, so he said participating in the local National Anthem Project event was a natural conclusion to the year. Students Abby Armer and Catherine Mohon sang the anthem solo for the chance to have $1,000 donated to their favorite music department (Sunny Hills—of course!).

For more information about the National Anthem Project, go to www.thenationalanthemproject.org.