Hillsborough Singer to Perform National Anthem at Patriots Stadium

Hillsborough, NJ -- It has always been a passion of Michelle Marrocco to sing.

Now the Hillsborough native will have a chance to show off her vocal skills to thousands of fans as she sings the National Anthem at Patriots Stadium in Bridgewater.

Marrocco was selected as one of the winners from the Somerset Patriots’ National Anthem Auditions held at Menlo Park Mall in Edison on March 12.

“I always loved to sing,” Marrocco told Patch. “I sang for friends’ weddings and at 48, I got involved with a band.”

Now that Marrocco’s children are older she has more time to dedicate to her singing. She just started singing with a band called Kolor Blind.

Marrocco works full-time as a hairdresser at Hair Unique in Bridgewater where one of her clients told her about the try-outs.

She headed to the mall and sang the Whitney Houston song “Save All My Love For You.” There were about 100 people who tried out and Marrocco was one of the lucky few to be chosen.

Each contestant had to sing a one-minute song in front of guests and judges. Magic 98.3 FM’s morning host Chris McCoy was the emcee of the event. The judges were John Lisk of Magic 98.3 FM, Somerset PatriotsVice President of Public Relations Marc Russinoff, and professional singer Tess Giardina.

Other selected singers are: Duane Patterson Jr. (Roselle), Tanasia Paige (Irvington), Scott Wilcox (Metuchen), Tom Fellin (Somerville), Tina Davis (Edison), Tukymah Madison (North Plainfield), Peri Martins (Warren), Sofia, Arthur, and Isabella Wawrzyniak (Morristown), Echo Picone (Washington), and Grace Griesler (Flemington).

“I am very excited to sing the song at the ballfield,” Marrocco said. “Ever since I heard I was a winner I have been practicing. You can hear med singing out of the walls at my house, singing in the shower, singing while I cook. I am practicing constantly now. Clients even hear me. I really am excited and proud and really want to do my best.”

For more information or to purchase tickets for the 2016 season, stop by TD Bank Ballpark, call (908) 252-0700, or visit www.somersetpatriots.com.

(Photo provided: Michelle Marrocco singing at a friend's wedding)