Kids Needed to Audition For Singing Role at Cincinnati's Tennis Stop

Do you know a talented youngster who’d like to sing at Cincinnati’s biggest international sporting event, the Western & Southern Financial Group Masters & Women’s Open? 

Bring them to Fountain Square on Saturday, June 27. Talented kids 12 years of age or younger will be able to audition before celebrity judges for the chance to sing “America the Beautiful” prior to a session of the 2009 tournament. 

“For kids who enjoy singing, this is a unique opportunity for them to display their talents on a very big stage,” said Phil Smith, director of marketing for the W&SFG Masters & Women’s Open. “This is a new element to the tournament in a year when we have many new elements, including the upgrade of our women’s event to a top-tier status, which means the top female players such as Venus & Serena Williams will be here in August as well as the top male players.”

Registration will begin at 8 a.m. on the 27th and will be open to the first 300 kids age seven to 12. Approximately two dozen of these youngsters will be selected to sing “America the Beautiful” during the tournament.

Each participant will sing a short a cappella version of the song for celebrity judges and will be given a gift after auditioning.

“Kids need to bring a parent or guardian and their best singing voices, and be prepared to sing at least the first two stanzas of ‘America the Beautiful’,” said Smith. “The judges will make their choices based on vocal talent and personality, and we’ll notify the winners in the following weeks.”

The $5 million 2009 Western & Southern Financial Group Masters & Women’s Open will be held August 8-23 at the Lindner Family Tennis Center in Mason.

Cincinnati’s tennis tournament tradition started in 1899, and it is now the oldest tournament in the nation still played in its original city. The tournament is on the top level of both professional tennis tours.

For tickets or information visit www.cincytennis.comor call 513-651-0303.(Tickets are also available through TicketMaster at 800-745-3000.)