By:Angela Marshall
The St. Agnes Choir of Men and Boys scored big this year. They have been chosen to sing the national anthem during a Mets game at Shea Stadium. Thursday, Aug. 23 a group of 55 men and boys from Rockville Centre will take to the field to perform before a crowd of more than 50,000 in the stadium and thousands more watching television.
A fan club of 120 friends and family have already bought tickets to see them in person.
For years members of the choir have talked about the idea of performing at Shea and this year they finally decided to go for it. An audition tape and resume were mailed in January and in April the singers learned that they had been accepted.
Michael Bower, who has directed the choir since 1992, couldn't be happier for his charges. "It's really wonderful," he said following a rehearsal last Sunday.
Bower is a man with lots of energy who doesn't sit when rehearsing, and during warnups, his singers don't either. He often bounces on his toes, and at one point even bounded up onto an empty chair in a moment of enthusiasm. Training young voices is obviously a job he takes seriously.
He also enjoys working with the men of the choir. Many have been members since Bower took over. "They're the backbone of the choir," he said. "They really support the younger voices."
The national anthem is often personalized by those who are singing it. Sometimes it's jazzed up or performed operatic and Bower is striving to make the St. Agnes version special as well. "We want to sound like a boys and men's choir - the very best."
Because of the size of the venue, there is an echo that has thrown off more than a few professional singers. Bower gave the performers tips to avoid that trap and is hopeful that a request to sing a spiritual prior to the anthem, as a way of warming up will be honored.
When asked if he was excited about the upcoming performance, 10-year-old Connor Dwyer's eyes became round like saucers and he blurted out "Oh yeah."
Although he and many of the other boys are more partial to the Yankees, they were all excited about performing for such a large audience.
The adults were equally enthusiastic. "I'm psyched," Lou Paolillo said.
Paolillo, a member of the St. Agnes Chorale brought in to strengthen the choir, said he has always dreamed of singing solo at Shea.
Performers are Chris Bossart, James Boylan, Jonathan Cleva, Andrew Collins, Dev Crasta, Rohit Crasta, Ricardo Derival, Richard Derival, Robert Derival, John Drinkwater, Patrick Duggan, Conor Dwyer, Conor Finnegan, Stephen Fiorentine, George Greco, Chris Kahn, Tyler Kahn, Daniel Lawrence, Matt Luvin, Greg Lynch, Chris Mackey, Tommy Mackey, John Maher III, Michael Manasia, Terence McNicholas, Michael Minasi, Stephen Paul, Kenny Powers, Greg Spessot, Matt Quinterno, Danny Rosenthal, Andrew Schenone, Danny Whalen, McGraw Wolfman, Jack Cook, James Crasta, Robert Delmond, Michael DiRaimondo, Bill Dwyer, Jonathan Etheart, Ed Fabian, Greg Greco, George Henkel, John Maher II, Michael McDonough, Jorge Nunez, Lou Paolillo, Richard Paul, Jim Schlegel, Eugene Spesak, George Spessot and Jack Wachter.
The performance will take place at 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 23, just before the Mets take on the Colorado Rockies.
