All the excitement about the start of the historic first football game coming this Saturday at 7 p.m. was heightened when the music department announced that they were holding auditions for a national anthem singer.

Alan Mills, director of bands, held auditions this past week for someone to take the microphone to start the game on Saturday night. Auditions were open to anyone, community members and students alike.

Mills and the other judges did have the addendum to choose from the pool of students and alumni first before he looked at other hopefuls.

After 25 candidates went through a process of auditions all week; Zach Fryberg sophomore music major was chosen to sing the national anthem at the home opener, a CSU-Pueblo student. Five other students were also chosen to sing at the remaining home football games, Mills said.

Some of the other candidates may also be contacted and invited to sing at other CSU-Pueblo athletics events, Mills said. A pool of twelve will be invited to sing at these other games.

It hasn’t been decided yet but there may also be a second round of auditions for national anthem singers for some of the spring sports, Mills said.

All singers chosen are students and alumni from CSU-Pueblo.

If the Music Department does decide to hold the second round of auditions, “everyone is welcome to come back,” Mills said.