Scott City choir to perform at Cardinals game

For the second year, students in Scott City Elementary Schools Honor Choir plan to perform at a Cardinals home baseball game.

The 22 students, led by elementary and middle school music teacher Heather Sneed, will sing "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" during the seventh-inning stretch July 18 when the Cardinals face the L.A. Dodgers at Busch Stadium in St. Louis.

Sneed said 75 percent of the number of tickets purchased from the Cardinals have to be sold for a group to perform.

Sneed said the tickets are consigned to the elementary school and her name is on the contract. "So if we don't sell the 75 percent, then we have to pay for the amount out of the music fund that we do not sell," she said in an email to the Southeast Missourian.

Last year, 600 tickets were purchased and all but 30 sold, she said. This year, Sneed also bought 600, but is able to increase the order depending on demand.

"So we're expecting another big sale this year because we're going to promote it in the community," Sneed said. "We didn't even have time last year to do that, so it was a big community support there. It was very exciting to see your community come out to a game together."

Tickets this year will be $18 and will be in the left-field loge on the 200 level, Sneed said. Last year, tickets were $14, because they were in a higher section and it was the first year the choir attempted singing at a Cardinals game.

The choir won't have any accompaniment when they sing in July, and they'll be projected on the Jumbotron. The group was shown on the Jumbotron several times last year, as well, when they performed a selection of patriotic tunes, Sneed said.

"Last year they put us on the board several times," Sneed said. "They'd do a commercial, then they'd show us, and they played our music as well. This year, we will be on the board [and] we'll have our name up there. I'll introduce us, who we are, then we'll take off singing. I think we get our picture taken at the end, as well."

Students must audition for the choir, and grades, school behavior, attitude and attendance are a "huge part" of participating, Sneed said.

"So any of those areas that they're lacking in can actually get them out of choir very quickly. Then, of course, they have to be able to sing on pitch," Sneed said.

She added the performances create a buzz around the school among teachers, students and parents.

"Parents get so excited. I have parents stop me in the store and tell me how excited they are. It just brings everyone together. It was really neat last year; we saw everyone there," Sneed said.

Tickets are available to anyone in the area by contacting the school, she said.

In addition to singing at Cardinals games, the honor choir also performs for cancer patients at Southeast Hospital, at the Veterans Home, in the Scott City park at Christmastime and at various school concerts.

A middle school choir has been added this year.

rcampbell@semissourian.com

388-3639

Pertinent address:

3000 Main St., Scott City, Mo.