Mahalia to sing US National Anthem in Brooklyn tonight

Local singer/songwriter Mahalia Cummins is set to become the next Barbadian entertainer to wow an international audience with her take of the Star Spangled Banner.

Tonight at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, the 2 Mile Hill lead singer will join the likes of Barbadian Cultural Ambassador Alison Hinds and the orange-haired songbird Nikita who previously sang the well-known anthem at that venue.

Director of the Barbados Tourism Marketing Inc’s (BTMI) United States Office Petra Rouse told NATION ONLINE the opportunity is being afforded thanks to a strategic partnership between her organisation and the Brooklyn Nets.

“We want to promote the talent of Barbados in the arts and culture and give young talent a platform to be seen on an international platform,” she said.

In Addition to Mahalia’s performance on the court, which is scheduled to begin at 8:30 p.m., the entire band will also get a chance to show off their talent elsewhere in the indoor arena.

“Out of that opportunity also came the opportunity for an exclusive post game performance by 2 Mile Hill in the Billboard lounge,” Roach added.

An excited Mahalia said she was looking forward to the opportunity but before most performances she always gets a bit nervous.

“I have all of the jitters! I still get nervous before every performance and yeah, this is a big one. This is another opportunity to show the diaspora and the world that we are here and we have much to share,” she said.

She said they had been preparing hard for event.

“There was lots of preparation and rehearsal; singing, recording, watching, listening back and singing back,” she added.

Mahalia will be singing at the start of the Brooklyn Nets vs Utah Jazz game. (TG)