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Outgoing Clarendon Hills girl enjoys singing
Brooke Bauer has been taking singing lessons for about four years, and has become known for singing the national anthem at sporting events.
Updated: January 7, 2013 6:09AM
CLARENDON HILLS — Grandma knew best for Brooke Bauer. It was the Clarendon Hills 9-year-old’s grandmother who heard her singing in the shower about four years ago and offered to send Brooke for singing lessons. Brooke said “yes” and continues to take weekly lessons at the Clarendon Hills Music Academy. Brooke said she doesn’t sing in the shower as much as she used to, but she has sung the national anthem at about a dozen minor league sporting events, mostly baseball, over the past two years.
Q. Were you excited when your grandmother offered to send you to singing lessons.
A. Yes. At the time, I thought I was a good singer, and I really liked singing. All my friends thought I was a singer, too.
Q. You have performed in front of crowds at sporting events. What do you enjoy more — the singing or performing in front of people?
A. I like both. When I sing in front of crowds it makes me feel special; not all people get to do that. I like the singing, too. It’s fun, and I just like how it feels. I’m happy when I sing.
Q. Do you mind taking time each week for your singing lessons?
A. Not usually. I’ve gotten a lot better since I started taking lessons, and it’s usually fun. Sometimes, though, I’d rather stay at home so I can watch TV.
Q. What are your favorite TV shows?
A. I mostly like adult shows. I like “How I Met Your Mother,” “Modern Family,” and “Two and Half Men.”
Q. What is your favorite music to listen to?
A. Adele, the Bee Gees, Willie Wonka, “The Lion King.”
Q. How did you end up singing the national anthem at sporting events?
A. We had to sing it in first grade, and I got interested in it. I just like it. I told my singing lessons teacher to make a recording.
Q. Your mom has made several phone calls to make arrangements for you to sing at the sporting events. Were you nervous when you first sang the national anthem two years ago at a Joliet Slammers minor league baseball game?
A. I was sweating, but that’s because it was so hot, not because I was nervous. I was a terrible singer back then, but I wasn’t really nervous.
Q. You recently sang the national anthem at Chicago Steel junior league hockey game in Bensenville. Was that different than singing at baseball games?
A. I was nervous because that was my first hockey game. At baseball games, they wait until I’m done singing to start cheering and clapping, but at the hockey game they didn’t even let me say “brave” before they were cheering.
