Wellesley High singers perform national anthem at Friday’s Celtics game

UPDATE (1/15/12): Here’s a picture of the students at the game and below, a YouTube video.

Wellesleyites not only get to root for neighbor Ray Allen at tonight’s Boston Celtics game against the Chicago Bulls, but also for Wellesley High School’s Keynote Singers, who will be performing the National Anthem before the game.

Kevin McDonald, director of choral music at Wellesley High, describes The Keynote Singers as a 44-member select ensemble that recently expressed interest in singing at a Celtics game. McDonald says senior Adam Johnson brought his own gear into class and the group recorded a demo version of its National Anthem performance. Then 10th grader Erika Madrian hit up the Celtics with a request for the group to perform. The Celts liked what they heard and asked the group on short notice to replace a previously scheduled performer for tonight’s game.

“Our group was extremely prepared, so we jumped at the opportunity,” says McDonald, who also serves as director of youth music at Wellesley Congregational Church. “Personally, I have dreamed of doing this with one of my ensembles for a long time and it is very exciting to do this on a night that has such a high profile game being broadcast by ESPN as well as Comcast SportsNet.”

McDonald suggests watching the Celtics pregame show on Comcast SportsNet from 7:30-8 to get to listen to the anthem.

(I personally will be at the Swell-tics game in very un-Wellesley-like $10 seats — yes, they do exist — high above courtside. I *might* be able to hear the ensemble and see the game from there…)