Archives > Little Elm Journal > News
Print
E-mail
Comment
Rate
RSS
Share
Junior high student makes melodious history
By Ann Marie Shambaugh, Community Editor
Lots of junior high students migrate to the nation’s capital at one time or another, but few of them get the chance to sing the national anthem in a history-making choir at the Washington Monument.
Even fewer get to sing a solo on the steps of the Jefferson Memorial.
Lakeside Junior High School eighth-grade student Cami Broker got to do both as the Texas winner of the National Anthem Project road show singing contest.
“I’m really excited that I got to see the reflection pool,” she said. “The Lincoln Memorial is right at the end of it and it’s so neat.”
In addition to sightseeing, Cami’s week included a mass patriotic sing-along with the United States Marine Band, a solo performance of “American Tears” at the Jefferson Memorial, and a National Anthem Project grand finale at the Navy Marine Corps Stadium complete with leading drum corps shows.
“We made history for the most people singing the national anthem at once in the same place,” Cami said of the event with the U.S. Marine Band. However, she particularly enjoyed the final event.
“It was really neat,” she said. “All the bands were really good.”
The trip was in conjunction with the culmination of the National Anthem Project, which kicked off at the Orange Bowl in 2006 before heading to all 50 states to help teach and re-teach “The Star-Spangled Banner.” The project ended over Flag Day weekend with thousands of participants on hand to celebrate and sing in Washington, D.C.
Cami found out she was going to the nation’s capital in the spring of 2006, three weeks after singing the national anthem in front of judges at the Dallas Zoo as a sixth-grader.
Joni Broker, Cami’s mother, was among the first to find out that her daughter had been chosen to represent Texas. She and her husband and 10-year-old son quickly headed to Brent Intermediate School to share the good news.
“For some reason, they all just knew why we were there,” Joni said. “Everyone started screaming in her class and jumping up and down, and they were all excited for her.”
Cami was just as surprised as everyone else.
“I wasn’t expecting to win it,” she said.
Karen Mayberry, Cami’s music teacher at Brent, originally encouraged her gifted student to audition after she found out about the contest.
“She’s real talented,” Mayberry said. “She has all kinds of confidence and does really well when she sings for people.”
Now Mayberry is trying to decide whether to spend the $1,000 contest prize on choir uniforms, risers, or something else for the junior high school, after the National Anthem Project donated the money to the school after Cami’s win.
“At this point we’re still debating about what would be the best thing to use that for,” Mayberry said.
The performance that earned money for her school was not the first time Cami sang in front of an audience. She began singing at her church as a fourth-grader, and sang the national anthem at a Frisco RoughRiders game the next year. She’s also sung the national anthem at a Texas Tornado game, at Little Elm’s July Jubilee celebration, and the Plano Balloon Festival.
She’s been singing privately for as long as she can remember, but her skills weren’t always so impressive. Her mom said she couldn’t carry a tune until she was 6 years old.
“Little did I know that her voice was going to mature and she’s really going to be able to sing,” Joni said.
Cami has been influenced by favorite singers Nicole C. Mullen, Carrie Underwood, and Kelly Clarkson, the latter two who are of “American Idol” fame. She’s already planning to audition for the hit show’s ninth season, which takes place when she will be old enough to meet the program’s age minimum of 16.
Mayberry said she thinks Cami has what it takes to someday be an American Idol.
“I really can’t say enough about Cami and her attitude,” Mayberry said. “She takes instructions well, she can be a leader but yet she can also be a team player. Really, she’s just a very, very fine student in all areas I’m sure, but certainly in music.”
The following are comments from the readers.
In no way do they represent the view of Starlocalnews.com
In no way do they represent the view of Starlocalnews.com
Rich Gordon wrote on Jul 2, 2007 10:50 PM:
" So nice to hear another Carrie Underwood mention of someone inspired by her!
Rich Gordon
CarrieNEWS.com "
You must register with a valid email to post comments.
Only your Member ID will be posted with the comments.
Only your Member ID will be posted with the comments.
Registered users sign in here:
Become a Registered User
- Return to: News «
- Home «
- Top of Page ^
