Nebraska Wesleyan鈥檚 Opera Director has performed on stages big and small all across the world.
Dawn Pawlewski Krogh has held title roles as Marie in O Pioneers!, Cleopatra in Giulio Cesare, Gretel in Hansel and Gretel, and Arline in The Bohemian Girl, a role which won her the 鈥渂est female singer鈥 award at the International Festival of Light Opera in Ireland.
But there was one stage she had long set her sights on.
The long-time Chicago Cubs fan dreamed of singing at Wrigley Field. Her dream came true on August 16, when she stood before a roaring crowd and sang the National Anthem.
鈥淚 was very nervous,鈥 said Krogh. 鈥淚t鈥檚 the National Anthem. If you mess it up, your life is over.鈥
Last spring she auditioned to sing at Wrigley Field and was notified of her selection this summer.
Krogh is used to singing the National Anthem for various events. In fact, she was Nebraska's winner of the National Anthem Project a few years ago. But this time was different. Prior to the game, Krogh and her family stood on the field to watch the baseball team warm up. She took several deep breaths and slowly rehearsed the words to the National Anthem over and over in her head.
When the announcer introduced Krogh she took to the microphone and sang flawlessly.
鈥淭here was a hushed silence as soon as I started,鈥 she said. 鈥淎nd once I started, the nerves went away.鈥
Krogh wasn鈥檛 completely unfamiliar with singing at a ballpark. Several years ago she attended a mass audition to sing the National Anthem at an Arizona Diamondbacks game. She won and happened to sing on a night the team was playing her beloved Cubs.
Krogh 鈥 who hails from Des Moines, Iowa 鈥 said the Chicago Cubs were natural favorites for her family.
鈥淗aving no professional baseball team in Iowa, the Cubs became our team,鈥 she said.
Krogh鈥檚 selection to sing the National Anthem also garnered her VIP seats. At one point she even ducked from a pop fly.
鈥淚t really was an incredible experience,鈥 she said. 鈥淚t was a dream come true.鈥