Culpeper Middle School’s Choral Director, B. Adam Hughes, had the exciting honor of performing the National Anthem at the Baltimore Orioles game against the Houston Astros on August 25, 2024, at Orioles Park at Camden Yards. Although Hughes has sung the anthem at numerous prestigious events, including NBA games (Washington Wizards), MiLB (Fred Nats), VCU, the University of Richmond, JMU, and Georgetown University, this marked his debut performance at a Major League Baseball game.
In addition to singing the National Anthem, Hughes had the rare opportunity to perform again during the game. “I’ve always enjoyed performing the anthem, but the added bonus was being asked to sing ‘God Bless America’ on top of the home dugout during the 7th-inning stretch,” Hughes shared.
When asked how he secures such high-profile performances, Hughes explained, “In most cases I’ve sent a recording of a previous performance to the arenas in hopes of getting selected to sing. However, there have been a few instances where they’ve reached out to me, which is always surprising and unexpected in the best kind of way.”
While Hughes has cherished all of his performances, the Orioles game held special significance. “What made the Orioles game especially memorable was having so many family and friends present,” he said.
In addition to his performances, Hughes also had a memorable encounter off the field. After singing, he met Olympic gold medalist Quincy Wilson, capping off an unforgettable evening with a personal conversation.
Watch the National Anthem Performance at this link.
Congratulations to Adam Hughes for representing Culpeper Middle School and our community on such a grand stage!
