BY SAM PRADO ROBERTS
On December 29, January 7, and January 12, Meghan Valanzola sang the National Anthem and Canada’s national anthem, “O Canada,” to crowds of more than 5,500 people at events at the Prudential Center.
Valanzola first received the call to perform at the Prudential Center in Newark when her parents showed a family friend videos of her singing the National Anthem at community events. “That was absolutely wild,” said Valanzola
The young performer had one month to prepare for the first event in December where she performed for the New York Sirens, the Ottowa Charge, and their fans before a women’s hockey game. “That was definitely my largest audience yet,” said Valanzola.
Valanzola performed “O Canada,” in addition to America’s National Anthem for all three games due to the New York Sirens, the resident women’s hockey team, competing against Canadian teams. She practiced twice a week leading up the games and found that she learned it, according to Valanzola, “relatively quickly.”
Valanzola made her final performance for a face-off between the New York Sirens and the Toronto Scepters on January 12. Over 5,000 people filled the stands for the weekend game. “Songs like the National Anthem bring people together, and I love getting to be the catalyst for those experiences,” said Valanzola.
Valanzola has performed for local community events since seventh grade, first performing for Owen Henrys’ inauguration as mayor in January 2020. “I love getting to sing at events because it brings people together,” said Valanzola.
Valanzola hopes to continue performing at the Prudential Center. In the meantime, she will keep herself busy performing in the Spring Musical, 42nd Street on March 20-22 where she will play the lead. She will also sing in the Spring Choir Concert on April 30.
Posted on 1/27/25
Photos by Samantha Prado Roberts and Kailey Siegel
Knight Life 