URBANA — Music has been a longtime passion for Jaiden Burgess.
Church choirs, school trips to Florida, and Urbana High School athletic events are just some of the places UHS seniors have performed over the years.
“I've always loved music,” Burgess said. “I've always loved singing. It's always been one of my favorite things. I've always loved writing my own songs, singing with people, and sharing things. Music is one of my favorite things.”
But what about singing the national anthem in front of thousands of people at State Farm Center?
In what will be a first for Burgess, Burgess will sing “The Star-Spangled Banner” at State Farm Center during the IHSA boys basketball state finals this Thursday and Friday at 6:30 p.m.
“I'm really excited,” Burgess said. “It's a really big opportunity, but the truth is, I never thought I'd get it.”
It's a fitting stage for Burgess, whose love of music began at an early age.
“The first time I sang solo was in church when I was 9 years old,” Burgess said. “I remember being so scared when I was in third grade. I was always into choirs and things like that.”
These early experiences eventually inspired Burgess to write their own songs. Things are going well in that respect. “Me Too” was released on streaming platforms like Apple Music and Spotify last September, while “Keep it to Myself” was released on March 1st.
Burgess and her classmates tried to make up for lost time soon after entering high school, especially after freshmen's grades were upended by the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We've done a lot of theater together,” said fellow senior V. Bechtel. “We're a cappella. It's the same with music, theater, and anything that borders on music and theater, and that's what we do.”
IHSA works with the Illinois Music Educators Association to select the national anthem singers for the basketball and girls volleyball state finals. A winner from each of the organization's nine districts will be chosen to perform.
Urbana intended to have a national anthem singer anyway if it made it to the IMEA regional finals. Burgess won and Bechtel was runner-up.
“I'm very, very happy to have one more person to experience Jeonju with me this year,” Burgess said. “It was really nice to have someone in my corner the whole time.”
It's no wonder Burgess and Bechtel, who are so involved in Urbana's performing arts classes, were in a position to perform on the state stage.
Both of them had been on that literal stage before. Urbana's choir performed with Foreigner at the State Farm Center on Oct. 22 after winning a contest sponsored by Light Rock 97.5-FM.
“The goal is to get them in front of as many people as possible and get as many opportunities as possible so they don't get scared or nervous about the opportunity,” said Urbana Choir Director Becky Park. I think it's important to make sure that it doesn't happen.”
Burgess' performance at State Farm Center will be his second basketball performance this season.
They have previously sung the national anthem at an Urbana women's basketball game.
“I sing so well that I'm no longer afraid of singing in front of people,” Burgess said. “It was my first time doing something like a match, so it was interesting to be in an unfamiliar environment.''
Practice makes perfect, especially when it comes to technical songs like this.
“This is just a beast of a song,” Park said. “We both felt very happy with our auditions and felt like we gave the best we could. That's what we always teach here: give your best and then let what happens happen.” It means you have to.”
About a month from now, when Burgess sings the first phrase of this song, there will be many familiar faces in the audience.
It will be the culmination of a journey that has brought Burgess and Bechtel closer since auditions began in October.
“I've known you as a friend for a really long time, and I think this brings us even closer,” Burgess told Bechtel.