Mandy Olivastro singing The Star Spangled Banner at Pedal for the Cure 10-01-11 .mov

October 25, 2011: Mandy Olivastro is not a trained musician. She is a 17 year old junior at MICDS High School. She started studying voice with me at the age of 14, and until October 1, 2011, she had never performed for more than 100 people at her school! Mandy was invited to sing with only a couple of days notice! So after a one hour lesson on the song, Mandy sang the Star Spangled Banner for thousands of people at a huge public cancer awareness event called "Pedal for the Cure" on October 1, 2011! The Star Spangled Banner is one of the all-time toughest songs to sing. You have to admit that you have heard too many bad and mangled versions at public events! I am so proud of Mandy! She sang the respectful version we worked on. We made it about the Anthem, not about her lovely voice. Mandy sang the Anthem IN TUNE, without abuse, and with a solid focus for the task at hand, rather than letting her nerves get the best of her...as they do with so many performers charged with the same task. Go Mandy! You are the Best!! Sheila Dugan

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