USTA LAUNCHES NATIONWIDE ONLINE AUDITION
FOR CHILDREN 14 YEARS OF AGE AND YOUNGER TO PERFORM
AT THE 2018 US OPEN
Call-Back Audition for Final Singer Selections to Be Held June 26 in New York City
WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., April 17, 2018 – The USTA announced today that for the fourth consecutive year, it has launched a nationwide online audition as part of its 12th annual US Open anthem audition, open to all kids 14 years of age or younger.
A select number of submissions will be chosen to participate in a call-back that will be held in New York City on June 26, with those selected earning the chance to perform “America the Beautiful” live in Arthur Ashe Stadium during the 2018 US Open.
“As we head into the 50th anniversary of the US Open, how exciting will it be for this year’s winners to perform during our grandest year yet,” said Gordon Smith, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer, USTA. “Looking back, every anthem performance has been outstanding by some of our nation’s very talented youth. The future is certainly bright, and we are thrilled to continue bringing on an array of young talent who will not only warm our hearts through their renditions, but will add to the celebration of our great tournament.”
To submit an audition, children 14 years of age or younger must upload a recorded version of themselves via a YouTube link, performing all or a portion of “America the Beautiful” a cappella to usopen.org/anthemauditions by May 11, 5pm ET. All entries will be reviewed by a panel of judges from the music and entertainment industry.
A select number of contestants from the online submissions will be invited to participate in an in-person call-back audition in New York. There, participants will be asked to perform all or a portion of “America the Beautiful” a cappella individually in front of judges.
Winners selected from the call-back audition will perform “America the Beautiful” live during the night sessions at the 2018 US Open, which will be held Aug. 27 to Sept. 9.
The USTA will make its final singer selections in early July. Those selected will receive a US Open gift bag and tickets to their performance session. For more information on the online audition, including the official rules, go to www.usopen.org/anthemauditions.
The 2018 US Open begins on Monday, August 27 and runs through Sunday, September 9. A full schedule of US Open 50th Anniversary events will be released this summer.
