Timbers, Beavers seeking national anthem performers

PORTLAND, Ore.
- The Portland Timbers and Portland Beavers will be holding national anthem auditions for the 2006 season on Saturday, March 18, it was announced today.




The Beavers and Timbers are searching for quality performers to sing or play the national anthem for any of the 90-plus home dates during the 2006 season of events at PGE Park, including Toyota Trucks Mariners Day on March 31, a game that features the Beavers taking on the Seattle Mariners.




The auditions, which will be conducted on the field at PGE Park, will be held from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.




Interested candidates will be asked to sing or play the entire national anthem in front of a panel of judges. Bands, groups, choirs, and those able to sing or perform “God Bless America” and the Canadian national anthem are strongly encouraged to audition. All performances must be between 85 and 100 seconds in length.




Interested applicants should contact promotions manager Jadira Ruiz at (503) 553-5402 or by email at jruiz@pgepark.com to reserve a time slot for the audition. Walk-ins will be accepted, depending on availability. Each participant will have a three-minute time period in which to perform.




The March 18 audition will serve as the only national anthem tryout date for the 2006 season of events at PGE Park.




The Beavers, the Triple-A affiliate of the San Diego Padres, begin their expanded 73-game home schedule on Friday, March 31, when they host the Mariners in a special spring training exhibition game at PGE Park. The Beavers begin the regular season at home against the Sacramento River Cats on Thursday, April 6.




The Timbers, a member of the USL First Division, start their 14-game, regular-season home schedule on Friday, May 5, against the Vancouver Whitecaps.




Both regular seasons conclude in early September.