USTA to launch nationwide kids’ audition
April 19, 2016
WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. – The USTA today announced that it has launched a nationwide online audition as part of its 10th annual US Open anthem audition. A select number of submissions will be chosen to participate in a call-back that will be held in New York City on June 28, with those selected earning the chance to perform “America the Beautiful” live in Arthur Ashe Stadium during the 2016 US Open.
For the second consecutive year, the audition age will be extended to children 14 years of age or younger to submit an online audition performance. Previously, the casting call was only open to those 12 and under. The USTA first launched an open casting call in 2006.
“We are gearing up for an electrifying US Open with many exciting features for our fans, and we look forward to this year’s talented anthem singers to add to the joy and fun we have traditionally enjoyed,” said Gordon Smith, Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer, USTA. “There’s plenty to look forward to this summer, and the USTA is proud to once again welcome another group of anthem singers to one of the biggest stages in sports.”
To submit an audition, children 14 years of age or younger as of Sept. 11, 2016, must upload a recorded version of themselves performing all or a portion of “America the Beautiful” a cappella to usopen.org/anthemauditions by May 13. All entries will be reviewed by a panel of judges from the music and entertainment industry.
A select number of contestants from the online submissions will be invited to participate in an in-person call-back audition in New York City on June 28. There, participants will be asked to perform all or a portion of “America the Beautiful” a cappella individually in front of the judges.
Winners selected from the call-back audition will perform “America the Beautiful” live during the night sessions at the 2016 US Open, which will be held Aug. 29 to Sept. 11.
The USTA will make its final singer selections in early July. Those selected will receive a US Open gift bag and tickets to their performance session. For more information on the online audition, including the official rules, log on to USOpen.org/anthemauditions.
The USTA is the national governing body for the sport of tennis in the U.S. and the leader in promoting and developing the growth of tennis at every level – from local communities to the highest level of the professional game. A not-for-profit organization with more than 715,000 members, it invests 100% of its proceeds in growing the game. It owns and operates the US Open, the highest-attended annual sporting event in the world, and launched the Emirates Airline US Open Series, linking seven summer tournaments to the US Open. In addition, it owns approximately 90 Pro Circuit events throughout the U.S. and selects the teams for the Davis Cup, Fed Cup, Olympic and Paralympic Games. The USTA’s philanthropic entity, the USTA Foundation, provides grants and scholarships and helps under-resourced youth and individuals with disabilities, and supports wounded, ill and injured service members, veterans and their families. For more information on the USTA, log on to usta.com, “like” the official Facebook page, facebook.com/usta, or follow @usta on Twitter.