Suffolk student recent sung national anthem

Published in the August 31, 2018 edition

Special to the Melrose Weekly News

By Tony Ferullo

BOSTON—Being held spellbound by the national anthem singer: That’s what Suffolk University student Rebecca Zama remembers most from attending sporting events when she was a child.

“I wanted to be that person,” said Zama, Class of 2019.

Zama, of Melrose, had her dream come true when she sang The Star-Spangled Banner on one of the biggest stages she could ever imagine – a weekend Red Sox-Yankees game before a sellout crowd of more than 37,000 at Fenway Park on August 2.

“It was an amazing experience and a moment I will never forget,” she said.

A Red Sox entertainment official saw Zama perform at a musical showcase and invited her to sing the national anthem before a recent clash of the longtime major-league rivals. Zama jumped at the opportunity.

REBECCA ZAMA of Melrose brought down the house at Fenway Park in August. (Photo by Reginald Thomas II/Boston Red Sox)

Crowd-Pleaser

Just before the command to “Play ball” rang out on a late-summer Saturday afternoon, Zama stood by home plate sporting a David Ortiz jersey, black jeans, and gold high heels. She recalls feeling comfortable and assured because “I’m very connected when singing.”

This despite the echo that bounces back to singers performing in a stadium; Zama could hear her voice returning to her on a two-second delay.

“It’s distracting, but you just push through it,” said Zama, who received a thunderous ovation from the Fenway faithful.

On Campus Stage

Zama has demonstrated her singing prowess at Suffolk as a member of Soulfully Versed, an a cappella group supported by the Performing Arts Office.

Performing with the student singers was “my first time singing with a group in a long time, and it was great being around a diverse group of music lovers,” she said. “It helped improve my ear and harmonies and expose me to new music arrangement styles.”

Zama, a government major whose ultimate career goal is to become an international diplomat, also is active in Suffolk’s Black Student Union and Caribbean Student.