Huntington’s Brandon Gicquel to Sing at Sold-Out Arthur Ashe Stadium
September 3, 2012 | By Long Island Tennis Magazine Staff
The USTA has announced that 10-year-old Brandon Gicquel of Huntington, N.Y., has been selected to sing “America the Beautiful” prior to the night session on Monday, Sept. 3, at the U.S. Open. Gicquel is set to perform in front of a capacity crowd in Arthur Ashe Stadium at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, which seats 23,771 spectators. This will be the sixth year that children 12 and under will kick off the tournament’s evening sessions by singing patriotic-themed songs.
“I am very excited, but at the same time a little nervous” said Gicquel. “I also really hope I get to see Federer play.”
This will be the biggest performance of Gicquel’s young career. He has performed in small theater groups and community plays. He began performing this year, after receiving perfect scores at a New York State School Music Association (NYSSMA) audition. Gicquel, likes to play a variety of sports, and is a big tennis fan. This fall, Gicquel will be entering the fifth grade at Holy Child Academy in Westbury, N.Y.
Earlier this summer, Gicquel was selected from a group of more than 150 performers who auditioned at the sixth annual U.S. Open Casting Call held at Harlem’s World Famous Apollo Theater in New York City. This was his first-ever performance and audition, so he is especially enthusiastic to experience singing in front a big crowd.
