by Jennifer Thomas
The Dallas Opera is thrilled to announce the winner of its inaugural, “Oh, Say, Can You Sing?” National Anthem Competition™. Keith Armstrong, 58, of Grand Prairie, Texas, was selected by popular vote from among five finalists. Nearly 1500 votes were cast to determine the winner.
Armstrong learned of the competition through a friend’s text. “They encouraged me to enter. Anytime I have an opportunity to sing the national anthem or “God Bless America”, I do. It’s my passion. I never served in the military so this is my chance to serve my country. I’m grateful for the opportunity to honor our country. I’m humbled to be included with those four other people, any one of which would have done a great job. I’m excited. It’s going to be a grand event!” said Armstrong.
The brand-new competition was designed to encourage an inner diva or divo, and offered men, women and children the opportunity to compete – via YouTube submissions – for the unique chance to bring down the house at AT&T Stadium in Arlington. Forty-seven applicants submitted online auditions.
The winner will make a live appearance at the stadium on Friday, April 11, 2014 to sing the national anthem – a cappella – prior to that evening’s performance of Rossini’s 1816 masterpiece, The Barber of Seville at 7:30 p.m.
The Dallas Opera’s April 11th AT&T Stadium Simulcast of The Barber of Seville is presented by The Dallas Foundation with additional support from the Carl B. and Florence E. King Foundation.
Doors open at 6:00 p.m., followed at 7:00 with the world’s largest screening of the Warner Brothers Classics cartoon “Rabbit of Seville,” a 1950 Chuck Jones masterpiece starring Bugs Bunny and Elmer Fudd. Armstrong will regale the simulcast audience on the gigantic stadium screens with an amplified, unaccompanied performance of “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
Free general admission tickets for the April 11th AT&T Stadium Simulcast (with a convenient print-at-home option) can be obtained through the Dallas Opera website.
