

Join The Sheckler Virtual Choir and Orchestra for the
Star-Spangled Banner
To celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States, singers of all ages are invited to join The Sheckler Virtual Choir in a special nationwide performance of The Star-Spangled Banner. Participants from across the country will record themselves singing and will be combined into one powerful collaborative video to be released before July 4, 2026. Previous Sheckler Virtual Choir projects have brought together singers from around the world for pieces such as You’ll Never Walk Alone, Take Me Out to the Ball Game, and Talkin’ ’Bout Jesus with Gloria Gaynor. Whether you are a trained singer or simply love to sing, you are warmly invited to take part in this celebration of music, community, and American history. We are also accepting videos for participants to join the orchestra! If you are interested in playing your instrument in the project, please email Dr. Harrison Sheckler at harrisonsheckler@gmail.com.
Video submissions will be accepted through June 15, 2026, but it's best to submit as soon as possible!
How to Participate
What You’ll Need
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A computer or laptop and a cell phone (iPhone or Android both work well)
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Headphones or earbuds
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Wear solid colored clothing if possible (avoid logos or text) Red, White, and Blue work best!
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The audio track provided below
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The vocal score attached (you may sing soprano/melody or one of the harmonies)
How to Record Your Video
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Plug your headphones into your computer or laptop.
You will listen to the provided audio track through your headphones while you sing along.
2. Record yourself using your cell phone.
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Record HORIZONTAL (landscape) — not vertical.
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Choose a quiet location with good lighting and a clean background.
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Position your camera at eye level or slightly above, angled slightly downward.
3. Clap with the track.
At the beginning of the audio you will hear a man count to three proceeded by three claps.
Clap along with those three claps in your recording.
This helps the audio engineer synchronize all the singers.
4. Sing or play your instrument for the entire track. Please record for the full length of the audio provided below, even during rests and instrumental introduction.
5. Choose your vocal part. You may sing the soprano (melody) or sing one of the harmonies from the vocal score. Sing whatever part feels most comfortable for your voice. *If you would like to participate as an instrumentalist, please email Dr. Harrison Sheckler at harrisonsheckler@gmail.com for more information.
6. Have fun and be expressive! Feel free to sing naturally and show your personality while staying within the camera frame.
SATB Vocal Score to Use
The Star Spangled Banner Foundation has provided permission for use of this vocal score. You can find more free scores on their website and learn about the history of the Star-Spangled Banner here.
Important note: This score does not include the instrumental introduction as heard in the recording above. We will only sing verse one. *
Audio Tracks to sing along with
You may choose to sing or play along to any of the following guide tracks to aid in your video submission.