“Mere hours before first pitch on Wednesday, word got out that an octet from the Cleveland Orchestra [would] be performing the national anthem in lieu of a singer at Game 7 of the World Series at Progressive Field in Cleveland,” writes Zachary Lewis in Wednesday’s (11/2) Plain Dealer (Cleveland). “ ‘Well, I guess all of that practicing has paid off,’ wrote principal second violinist Stephen Rose on his Facebook page.… Seven [of the eight players] are current members: first violinists Takako Masame, Chul-In Park and Jeanne Preucil Rose; principal second violinist Stephen Rose; second violinist Carolyn Gadiel Warner; cellist David Alan Harrell; and bassist Mark Atherton…. Violinist Stephen Warner retired from the orchestra earlier this year. ‘It’s always been basically the same group of people,’ said cellist Harrell. ‘We’re all sports fans.’ … Harrell said some version of the group typically plays for the team … at least once a year…. Reached by phone at Progressive Field after performing a sound check, Harrell said he could detect an ‘electricity’ in the building ‘unlike anything I’ve ever been around.’ This, from an artist who has appeared at most of the world’s great concert halls.” Watch video of their performance here.
Posted November 3, 2016
Photo caption: String players from the Cleveland Orchestra play the National Anthem before the final game of the World Series. Left to right: Chul-In Park, Stephen Rose, Stephen Warner, Carolyn Gadiel Warner, David Alan Harrell, Mark Atherton, Jeanne Preucil Rose, and Takako Masame. Photo: Courtesy Cleveland Orchestra ©Getty Images
