Local girl to sing national anthem at Patriots game
By:Eric Schwarz
A high school junior from Manville will celebrate her 16th birthday Sunday by singing the national anthem at the Somerset Patriots’ home game.
Melanie Esock of Brooks Boulevard will sing "The Star-Spangled Banner" for the Patriots. The Atlantic League baseball team will play the Atlantic City Surf at Commerce Bank Park in Bridgewater at 2:05 p.m. Sunday.
But first, Melanie will get to sing the anthem.
Melanie auditioned in March for the chance to sing the anthem by sending a tape to the Patriots. Dane Lyle of the Patriots’ staff then sent her a letter inviting her to sing.
"The guy in charge told me he liked the tape, so I picked my birthday" for the performance date, Melanie said. "We’ll probably have a little get-together afterward."
Melanie’s mother, Andrea Esock this week said some family and friends would attend the game, although she didn’t know how many.
Melanie will be a junior at Immaculata High School in Somerville in the fall.
Melanie attended about three Patriots games last year and heard "regular people" singing the anthem, so she decided to audition as well. The performances are a capella, without musical accompaniment.
Melanie studies under voice coach Dari Franks of Bridgewater and sings with her church choir, school chorus and at recitals.
Melanie has been rehearsing since March when she sent an audition tape of herself singing "Think of Me" from the musical "Phantom of the Opera."
She said singing is her "number one goal in life," and likes show tunes, as well as Italian and Latin songs.
Ms. Franks said Melanie will likely sing the anthem in C major.
"The range is much larger than most songs, an octave-and-a-half," Ms. Franks said. "You have to have the ability to sing both high and low notes within your key.
"She’s just a fun kid to work with," Ms. Franks said of Melanie. "She has a beautiful high and light (soprano) voice."
Melanie has been studying voice with Ms. Franks for about 3½ years. Her two older sisters, Valerie and Natalie, also have studied with there.
"The three of them came to me when they had parts in ‘The Sound of Music’" performed at Manville High School, Ms. Franks said.
Ms. Franks said another of her students, Kelly McPherson, a high school student from Hunterdon County, sang the anthem at a Patriots game last year.