Pennsylvania vocalists interested in entering the state’s upcoming national anthem contest could do a lot worse than getting some tips from Jill Simmons.
The Latrobe native first sang the anthem at her high school football stadium. Since then, she has gone on to sing it at more than 20 Pittsburgh Pirates games and a Penguins game over the years.
“Always review the words,” said Simmons, of Pittsburgh, who is touring nationally with her band Brown Eyed Women and also sings with Pittsburgh jam-band theCAUSE.
Simmons and other state residents are invited by state agriculture secretary Russell Redding to submit entries for “Oh, Say, Can You Sing?” — a contest to recruit vocalists who will sing the anthem each morning at the 2022 Pennsylvania Farm Show in January.
The contest is open to state residents of all ages, and entries can be from individuals or groups. Emailed entries will be accepted through Nov. 5 at agcontests@pa.gov.
For Simmons, the main concern is the echo she experiences in a professional stadium.
“Especially because the anthem is usually a good 10 minutes before the game starts, the stadium’s not full,” she said.
That won’t be a concern for those entering the contest. Simmons said her top tip is making sure to start on the right note.
“I have an app on my phone called Pocket Piano, and I make sure to start on a D every time,” she said. “I’m always sure to have the note in my head.”
The first section of the song that tests a singer’s upper vocal range — the “rocket’s red glare” portion — can be nerve-wracking, according to Simmons.
“I try to warm up in a higher key, so I can hit that part higher than I normally would, so that when I sing it lower, it comes more easily,” she said. “And then ‘land of the free’ is the same note. So if you hit that first one, you’ll be home-free for the last one.”
The top 20 finalists will be selected by a panel of judges, and finalists will be posted for fan voting on Facebook beginning Nov. 8. Five winners each in the individual and the group categories will be chosen.
Winners will perform at 8 a.m. each day of the 2022 Farm Show, set for Jan. 8-15 in Harrisburg.
Simmons said she couldn’t stress reviewing the words heavily enough.
“I’ve been singing it long enough that I’m usually fine,” she said.
“But I used to sometimes get in my own head and slip up on ‘perilous fight.’ I’ve definitely called it the ‘perilous flight’ before.”
For more on the contest, see FarmShow.pa.gov.