Marsalis’ Uptown Music Theatre To Perform National Anthem At New Orleans Saints Game This Sunday
NEW ORLEANS— More than 20 students from the Uptown Music Theatre (UMT) will perform the National Anthem at the New Orleans Saints game on Sunday, December 6, 2015, versus the Carolina Panthers.
UMT students aged 8-15, will perform in front of 76,000 fans and millions of TV viewers. Students will be under the direction of Grammy award-winning producer and NEA Jazz Master, Delfeayo Marsalis.
Marsalis, a member of the famed “first family of jazz,” which includes Marsalis’ father and pianist Ellis Marsalis, and brothers saxophonist Branford Marsalis, trumpeter Wynton Marsalis and percussionist Jason Marsalis, founded UMT in 2000 in order to provide professional dramatic arts training to New Orleans youth. He encourages them to explore the world from different perspectives through the arts.
“We would like to thank the Saints organization for this great opportunity,” said Marsalis. “I’m proud that our kids have this chance to showcase their talents in front of such a big audience.”
UMT performs musicals that are inspired by American history, folklore, and New Orleans culture. The organization aims to expose children and adults to entertaining and meaningful stories. UMT is currently the four-time reigning champions of the iTheatrics Junior Theater Festival in Atlanta, Georgia, a prestigious international competition in musical theatre arts.
The game will kick off at 3:25 p.m. at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.
