By Jim Newell
Review Editor
This isn’t the first time the Lake Orion High School Choir has performed on a grand stage, but when the students take the field at Comerica Park next Saturday it will be an opportunity for fans to support the choir, the Detroit Tigers and get a commemorative baseball cap.
The Tigers play the Oakland Athletics at 4:10 p.m. on May 18, but before the game Lake Orion students will sing the “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
And anyone who purchases a ticket to the game under the Tigers/Lake Orion link will get an exclusive, one-day-only commemorative green baseball cap with the Detroit Tigers “D” on the front, “LO” on the side.
“We set aside game dates every year to reach out to communities and invite schools to come and perform the national anthem,” said Mike McAdams, Director of Group Sales for the Detroit Tigers. “We’ve been doing this for a while. It’s something we do every year in the community and Lake Orion was one of the schools we came across and wanted to invite them down for a game.”
Eric Henkleman is the president of the Lake Orion High School Choir Booster Club and has been working on the arrangements with the Tigers organization.
There are four price points for tickets, ranging from $34-$49. For each ticket purchased under the program, the Tigers will donate $5 back to the choir. Tickets must be ordered at Tigers.com/lakeorion to get the exclusive hat.
The deadline to purchase a ticket to the game to get the commemorative Tigers/Lake Orion cap is May 13, McAdams said.
The Lake Orion choir, directed by Bryce Thompson, is rated number one in the state for the second time in three years, Henkleman said.
“I’m thrilled. I’m so proud of this choir, and what Bryce has done, and getting these kids these experiences that they’ll never forget,” said Henkleman, whose daughter, Catie, sings in the choir. “It’s just a great group of kids.”
The choir sings annually at the Holly Jolly Folly fundraiser and during the Orion Area Lighted Parade in December. The choir also performed during the Detroit Symphony Orchestra concert series from Dec. 21-23, singing behind the orchestra.
“My wife and I are really proud of this choir as they sang with the DSO at Orchestra Hall this past Christmas,” Henkleman said.