Berklee Student Performs National Anthem at Boston Celtics Game
Ella-Jane Sharpe performed "The Star-Spangled Banner" at the December 18 Boston Celtics game.
Image courtesy of Brian Babineau and the Boston Celtics
Berklee College of Music student Ella-Jane Sharpe performed "The Star-Spangled Banner" at the Boston Celtics game against the New York Knicks on Saturday, December 18. A vocalist and songwriter majoring in performance, Sharpe also studies with the Berklee Global Jazz Institute (BGJI) under the direction of Grammy Award–winning pianist, composer, and BGJI founder Danilo Pérez.
Sharpe has performed for acclaimed artists such as Kurt Elling, Justin Timberlake, and James Morrison, and has studied with Erana Clark and Maggie Scott. Having grown up in the United Kingdom and moved at an early age to Sydney, Australia, her work is influenced by her changing environment and surroundings. Sharpe is passionate about using music as a tool to give back to her community. She has developed outreach programs dedicated to fostering, nurturing, and assisting young musicians in reaching their full potential. These programs focus on jazz education and encourage young people to learn the origins of music while giving back to their communities.
Berklee has a history of collaboration and outreach in partnership with the Boston Celtics. Berklee City Music and the Boston Celtics Shamrock Foundation have partnered on various initiatives throughout the years, and the foundation has been a colead sponsor of the annual Berklee Encore Gala.
"The Boston Celtics Shamrock Foundation is an extraordinary organization whose commitment to local communities outmeasures most,” said Krystal Prime Banfield, Berklee's vice president of Education Outreach and Social Entrepreneurship. "Our Berklee City Music partnership has made a significant impact on the lives of Boston youth through the foundation's support, strategic collaborative engagement, and genuine compassion to uplift young people. They have transformed the lives of thousands of underserved youth through creative youth development, and a critical education in music and the arts. They develop their social, emotional, and creative capacities to be resilient throughout their lives and impactful in any career path they endeavor. On behalf of our youth and families, I heartily thank them!"