ROUND ROCK, Texas — Baseball season is just around the corner, and with it comes the chance to perform live.
The Round Rock Express is preparing to host free auditions for 2024 national anthem singers.
From 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Feb. 6, individuals and groups of 10 or less can put their skills to the test during a judged process at the Kalahari Resorts & Conventions, Kilimanjaro Ballroom Suite #1, located at 3001 Kalahari Blvd.
Check-ins start at 4:30 p.m., and a rehearsal room will be available in Suite #3.
Vocalists interested in performing at Dell Diamond should plan to audition with a traditional, military style version of the "Star-Spangled Banner" with little to no creative variation. Auditions should last no longer than a minute and a half and should be performed a cappella, though instrumental auditions are also welcome.
Due to space and time requirements, groups of 10 or more performers, including bands and choirs, must reach out directly to Colin Perry, multimedia marketing express coordinator for the Round Rock Express, at cperry@rrexpress.com to book a date to perform during the season.
Video auditions can also be emailed to Perry, though they will only be evaluated after all the in-person performers have been scheduled and notified.
Ahead of the auditions, Laurie Winckle, a panel judge and the owner of Hutto-based Vocal Edge Vocal Studio, will host a free Zoom workshop at 2 p.m. on Feb. 3. Those interested in attending can sign up for the workshop by emailing vocaledgestudio@gmail.com.
Following the auditions, the selection process itself could take up to two weeks. Any chosen singers must perform on the field using the same arrangement they performed during the judging process. Although the season has a total of 75 games, it is expected that under 50 performers will be considered by the judges.
The first Round Rock Express game of the season is set for 7:15 p.m. on March 29 at Dell Diamond, 3400 E Palm Valley Blvd. The Express will play the Sugar Land Space Cowboys.