Photo By Joseph Siemandel | Sgt. Tricia Scheer, a vocalist with the 133rd Army National Guard Band, Washington...... read more read more
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As the players, coaches and fans all rose at T-Mobile Park on the evening of September 10, 2021, all eyes were focused on Sgt. Tricia Scheer, a vocalist in the Washington Army National Guard’s 133rd Army National Guard Band. Standing no taller than five feet tall, she is so unimposing that you would not expect her to captivate an audience with more than 40,000 in the stands. On that night she moved them not once but twice, with her renditions of the Star Spangled Banner and God Bless America.
However this moment almost didn’t happen.
“In 2008 I was working for a financial advisor and I was laid off from my job, all while I was working on my Master’s program, so I was trying to find a way to support myself and I met with a number of different military recruiters,” said Scheer.
Scheer knew she wanted to help people, so she joined the Washington Army National Guard as a combat medic.
“My first unit was Charlie Med in Seattle, it was a great unit,” said Scheer. “One thing I was doing on the side was singing at events, and one day my unit asked me to sing at a memorial service for one of our soldiers that passed away.”
The bugler for the event happened to be the Readiness Non-Commissioned Officer for the 133rd Army National Guard Band, then Sgt. 1st Class Alton Huckaby. Before leaving he asked Scheer a question that she wasn’t prepared for: would she consider joining the band?
“I thought there is no way I am giving up my medic job because the training is so difficult to become a combat medic and I didn’t want to give that up because I was really enjoying the job I was doing,” said Scheer.
Unfortunately another soldier passed away, and Scheer and Huckaby’s paths crossed again at the memorial. The question was asked again, and Scheer was better prepared to respond.
“I was actually thinking of getting out of the Guard at the time, it had been five years and I was pretty much at that point ready to be done when my contract was up,” said Scheer. “I said ok I will come and audition.”
At the time, Scheer was just six months away from her service obligation and had no interest in extending with the National Guard. Huckaby didn’t see that as a problem, knowing once she got to the band, she would want to stay.
“I knew immediately we needed her in the band, however she was pretty set on transitioning out of the Guard. But I convinced her to give the Guard Band a try,” said Huckaby. “After a few drills she was at home.”
It may have seemed easy to make the change, but not for Scheer, who admits she may have over thought the audition.
“Before my audition, he told me over the phone to prepare two to three songs, and it took me five months to prepare. But I knew that if I wanted to do it I was going to have to extend,” said Scheer. “So when I got there for my audition I started singing Bonnie Raitt’s ‘Let’s give them something to talk about’ with the band and it just flowed so well.”
After learning more about the unit, its mission, and that she would have to change her military occupation and go to school in Virginia, it left Scheer a lot to think about.
“After that day with the band, it felt like I came home from a trip. It was just so different than being a combat medic and what I had been doing in the military,” said Scheer. “I realized there was a lot of potential to broaden and enhance my experience as a musician and as a professional.”
Scheer decided to take the chance and reenlisted.
“Initially I just wanted a change and wanted to broaden my singing repertoire but then it just became fun,” said Scheer.
That fun has carried her through her Guard career and has given her the opportunity to sing in places she could only dream about.
“My family loves the Mariners. My husband is a huge Mariners fan and I have wanted to sing the National Anthem at a Mariners’ game for as long as I can remember,” said Scheer. “So when I got an email from the Mariners, I was like, ‘what, me?’”
It was an honor Scheer was so grateful to receive. She has sung at numerous Guard events, for senior leaders and Gov. Jay Inslee at the Governor’s Mansion in 2019, but this felt so different for her.
“I had been there so many different times but this is a different day. The only voice that is going to be making noise is me,” said Scheer. “I am already nervous but then I go down to the field and do the sound check. So the players are all out on the field practicing and they turn off the rock music and it goes quiet.”
As she wraps up sound check, Scheer is feeling better but still just intimidated.
“I mean I wrap up and I look around and wow, I just sang in front of the Mariners. And the coach comes up to me and is like, ‘hey well done, but can we turn back on the rock music now?’” said Scheer with a laugh.
Approximately 52 seconds. That’s how long it takes to sing the National Anthem. Vocalists dream about the opportunity to sing the anthem at a sporting event with thousands trying out every year. Scheer knows the importance of the song and the responsibility it brings with being chosen to deliver it to a crowd.
“It is so important to me to sing those words, because it is our anthem, not just as a military member but as an American,” said Scheer. “It is so powerful because music is so powerful. I take it so seriously to sing the Star Spangled Banner.”
Scheer believes in the power that music has. She has seen how it can heal those that are hurting, how it can lift spirits of those who are lost and how it can bring hope and help those that are listening.
“I joined the Guard as a combat medic and I trained to help people in need. And I know as a musician I am bringing morale. I can help people by bringing them morale through the gift of music.”
| Date Taken: | 10.28.2021 |
| Date Posted: | 10.28.2021 13:22 |
| Story ID: | 408233 |
| Location: | SEATTLE, WASHINGTON, US |
| Hometown: | SEATTLE, WASHINGTON, US |
| Web Views: | 407 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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