Manchester Students Sing Anthem At BlueClaws Opener

Photo courtesy Manchester Township Elementary School

LAKEWOOD – Fourth- and fifth-graders from Manchester Elementary School sang The Star-Spangled Banner acapella at the BlueClaws first home game April 12. Music teacher Timothy Apgar led the students.

The school was invited by BlueClaws group coordinator Michael Kasel. It’s the first time they sang at the stadium.

The students practiced three time during lunch to prepare. The music and vocal maturity proved a bit challenging to settle on a key, but Apgar, after getting some advice from other educators in the Elementary School General Music Teachers Facebook page, chose A-flat.

“They blew me away on how well they did. I was so proud,” Apgar told The Manchester Times.

Photo courtesy Manchester Township Elementary School

“This community event was arranged by our Music Teacher, Mr. Timothy Apgar, and it brought together 159 students, staff and parents to watch the game and to cheer our students on as they sang the Star-Spangled Banner acapella!” MTES Principal Linda Waldron said. “We had great seats and the BlueClaws won the game! What a great event this was!”

The BlueClaws bested the Delmarva Shorebirds 2-0.