After weeks of preparation, the moment finally arrived. “I’m actually doing this,” said Laurel Fallis, 13, of Plympton.
That’s what was going through her mind as she sang the National Anthem in front of a packed TD Garden at the televised Boston Bruins game Thursday Sept., 21.
“I felt very proud of myself,” said Laurel who is soft-spoken at times but instantly becomes animated as she describes her developing abilities and love for music.
Accompanied by her mom Roseann, dad Kevin, and brother Brennan, 8, who all took in the game.
Laurel was as ready as she could be.
She walked out to the B symbol on the rug over the ice taking her place in the center she had kept her tune with a pitch pipe in hand and she reminded herself to have fun. Then she sang her heart out.
She describes the night with a beaming smile and pure self-satisfaction.
“You could barely hear the word brave…because the whole stadium was cheering and I heard a gasp. It felt awesome and I was relieved. And… my knees were shaking,” she recalled with a laugh.
After singing in front of thousands of people … you have to wonder what is next?
Her morning routine includes humming and singing as she readies herself for school at Silver Lake Middle. She is involved in soccer, drama, and volunteers with her Girls Scouts troop.
With help from mom Roseann, they plan to continue to submit videos to numerous upcoming auditions locally and nationally. When she is old enough, she envisions herself on The Voice.
“Singing for the Bruins was an ‘amazing opportunity’. We are very proud of her,” said Roseann.
Finding out she was accepted to perform at the Bruins game came via a cell phone call from her mom who was at home with the email confirmation.
Fallis imitated in a stage whisper how she reacted when her mom told her the incredible news.
She tried to keep their voice down on an otherwise silent bus as she processed the exciting announcement.
“I had her on my cell phone and I was talking in the phone and she said ‘You got accepted’ I was saying…
”What? Are you kidding? …that’s nuts,” said Fallis.
She began to rehearse the National Anthem with her vocal coach Martina Ferrante of Plympton.
Fallis also takes piano and guitar lessons with Doug Bangham of Carver School of Music who has been a driving force in her stage confidence, said Roseann
“Doug has been a big part of her comfort, presence, and poise. Roseann reminded her “you are 13, make sure you have fun!”
She intends to continue local theatre at SLRSD and plans to keep reaching for the next level. She foresees herself with a future career in music but don’t let her quiet demeanor fool you because this young lady has plans to raise the roof.