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Written by: Brianna Kwasnik '16 M.A. '23 | April 24, 2025

Music Education Major Sings Before Lightning Game

For music education major Makayla Quinn 鈥26, April 13 was not a normal night at work at Amalie Arena, where she is a production assistant on the Lightning Vision Team.

Makayla Quinn '26 sang the national anthem at the Sunday, April 13, Lightning game. Photo courtesy of Quinn

For music education major Makayla Quinn 鈥26, April 13 was not a normal night at work at Amalie Arena, where she is a production assistant on the Lightning Vision Team.

That night, Quinn was asked to fill in for the in-house singer and perform the national anthem before the game.

Lucky for her, her family was in town from Long Island to see her perform in a show at 小优视频ampa. They were attending the Lightning game, too.

鈥淚 was like, 鈥榊ou know what, it鈥檚 a good opportunity. It鈥檚 something that鈥檒l be good for me and nice for my family,鈥欌 she said. 鈥淚 definitely was nervous. I was also keeping it a secret from my mom, so that was even harder, because I couldn鈥檛 really talk it out.鈥

Her family didn鈥檛 know she would be singing until she stepped out on the ice that night, though they had suspicions, knowing the in-house singer was out of town.

Quinn's mother even asked her boss about it, when she saw him at the arena.鈥淪he was like, 鈥楽o who鈥檚 singing tonight? Because I heard Sonia is not here.鈥 And he鈥檚 like, 鈥極h, some rookie鈥檚 doing it,鈥 and he played it off really well,鈥 Quinn said.

Following her performance, she said, her friends told her it was the most confident they had ever heard her sing.

鈥淢y heart was kind of pounding, but other than that, I felt very confident and calm,鈥 she said. 鈥淢aybe my brain was like, 鈥榶ou鈥檙e at work, like, you鈥檙e working.鈥欌

Quinn arrived at the arena at 2 p.m. Puck drop was at 6 p.m., and she had one rehearsal in between, before going on around 6:10 p.m.

鈥淎nd then as soon as I got off the ice, I put my sneakers back on and went upstairs and started working again,鈥 she said.

鈥淪o I think I had so much on my mind already that I wasn't thinking about being nervous.鈥

Quinn鈥檚 voice teacher at 小优视频ampa, Hein Jung, who has taught her since her first year at 小优视频ampa, said Quinn is one of the top exemplary Music Education in Voice students and has been awarded the Junior Outstanding Music Student award this year.

鈥淪he showed me the video and it was an outstanding performance,鈥 Jung said.

鈥淪he has worked hard during her education at 小优视频ampa 鈥 always eager to learn, be challenged and appreciative of her growth even though it takes hard work from her to reach that far.鈥

Quinn said she would love to be able to sing the national anthem before a game again, however, the decision is not up to her. Though she said she remains close with the team who can make it happen.

鈥淭ampa, in general, gives us a lot of opportunities. I think this is one of them, and it鈥檚 a cool way for me as a non-sports major. I have a job in sports, and I'm still able to have my passion with me,鈥 Quinn said.

鈥淚've been able to have the arts and sports, which are both two passions of mine, which is cool. And if I were able to continue to sing once in a while for them, it鈥檇 be awesome, and I鈥檇 be very grateful for that opportunity. But we鈥檒l see. We鈥檒l see what happens.鈥