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Singers have a Lightning goal

By Traci Rader, Times Correspondent
In print: Friday, September 5, 2008

Rick Faurote, 48, walks offstage at the Music Showcase in Brandon last week after auditioning for a chance to sing the national anthem before thousands of people at the St. Pete Times Forum.
	[DANIEL WALLACE | Times]

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BRANDON

Oh, say, can you sing?

That was the question when singers turned out to audition for the chance to croon the American and Canadian national anthems at Tampa Bay Lightning games.

The tryouts Wednesday at Music Showcase brought out a diverse group of people, including a 6-year-old Citrus County girl and an architect from St. Petersburg. Those who didn't audition submitted their singing on a CD or digital music file.

Who would make the cut as a finalist?

Sophie Robitaille, the 6-year-old, impressed the judges by singing the Canadian anthem in French. Kerry Mullis, 28, got earnest applause for her confidence and smooth, clear voice.

"There were so many people that were nervous. I just wanted to have a good time and make it a good experience," said Mullis, of Plant City.

Kevin Nickorick, a 45-year-old architect by day and opera singer at night, heard about the auditions through a friend. He thought it might be a way to live a childhood dream.

Growing up in Canada, he admired a tenor he hears during a hockey game.

Still, Nickorick wasn't sure he would make it to Round 2. There were too many distractions and he lost his concentration.

"I never considered the fact that everyone else's pitch would throw me off," he said.

Despite the distractions, Nickorick pulled it off.

The Brandon audition went extremely well, said Jim Ciotoli, the Lightning's director of game operations.

"I was starting to worry," he said. "The first 12 auditions were pretty bad. But when everyone was done, we had eight strong finalists from the Showcase audition. I give them all credit, though. It takes a lot of guts to go out there and sing to a large crowd. I couldn't do it."

So who from the Brandon audition made it to this week's finals?

Six-year-old Sophie, along with Mullis, Nickorick and five others.

They'll compete with 15 other finalists this week.