St. Peter School Children’s Choir Performs National Anthem at Citizens Bank Park
As the Phillies Clinch National League East Title
Merchantville, NJ September 24, 2024 — The St. Peter School Choir sang the National Anthem at the Phillies vs. Cubs game on Monday, September 23. The school choir, directed by Mrs. Sarah Duvall Pearson, is comprised of 50 students in grades 4-8.
“This was such an amazing experience for our students. Our oldest students were some of the first to join the choir after COVID-19 lockdown restrictions were lifted in 2022, and the youngest choir members have only performed a handful of times. They have worked so hard to get here,” said Pearson.
“I was really nervous walking out of the tunnel, but then I saw my parents and I felt a lot better,” said fourth-grader Alana Ruiz.
“We started practicing in the spring, and singing with everyone else made me a lot less nervous,” said fourth-grader Aaliyah Ruiz, Alana’s twin sister.
The Children’s Choir rehearses weekly and leads the student body in song at church services at 9 AM on Friday mornings. St. Peter School also hosts two musical productions every year, one in the fall for grades 3-5 and one in the spring for grades 6-8.
“I love singing in the choir because everyone is really supportive and nice to each other,” said eighth-grader Mary Cate Roxberry. “And singing at the Phillies game was so much fun!”
St. Peter School Principal, Kathy O’Callaghan, was on hand for the game. “What an amazing experience this was for our students! Their beautiful performance at the stadium in front of so many Phillies fans, friends and family members is something they will remember all their lives. I could not be more proud of them.”
The school brought nearly 350 Phillies fans to the sellout crowd as they went on to defeat the Cubs 6-2, and clinch the National League Eastern Division. Photos of the event can be found on the Catholic Star Herald website. A video of the performance can be found here.