80-country anthem tour wraps up at Friday's Jays game
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After singing 80 anthems in 80 countries in 41 different languages, 11-year-old Capri Everitt has one more left — O Canada.
The Vancouver native will be preforming the national anthem at the Toronto Blue Jays’ game on Friday as part of a journey she just finished.
“My dad had the idea to do a sign and I said, ‘Dear Toronto Blue Jays, can I sing at a baseball game?,’” she said Monday. “We put that on Facebook and we got almost 3000 shares in 12 hours.”
The reason why that post got over 3000 shares is because Capri was on a unique trip.
She spent nine-months abroad with her family, singing national anthems across the globe to raise awareness and funds for SOS Children’s Villages, a charity that seeks to provide loving homes to orphaned and abandoned children.
Her journey — dubbed Around The World In 80 Anthems — has gained international attention.
“I love to sing and I really wanted to do something to help other kids around the world,” she said. “Other kids may not have the same things I do, so I decided I really wanted to help them.”
Her father, Tom, came up with the idea of having his daughter sing O Canada at a hockey game.
But one night her mother, Kerrie, decided on the 80 anthems based on the book, Around the World in 80 Days.
Capri spent a year before the family left on their journey practicing singing anthems in languages of other countries.
“It’s a little bit of pressure singing people’s national anthems because I don’t want to say something wrong or offended the country,” she said. “In Indonesia, they were so impressed that I knew their national anthem.”
Her parents added they’ve seen a lot of people tear up after listening to their daughter.
“Capri would sing an anthem in a country and somebody would be from another country and they just loved it,” Tom said.
Singing at a baseball game isn’t new for her either.
Just recently, Capri sung the American national anthem at a Washington National’s game, and the aspiring broadway actress is looking forward to her “homecoming performance.”
“I’m excited to sing both the Canadian and the American national anthem at the game,” she said. “It’s going to be the biggest crowd that I’ve ever sung in front of.”
Capri added her work wouldn’t end after Friday’s game.
She said she is writing a book and is hoping to inspire other children to use what they love to help others.
For more information, go to: aroundtheworldin80anthems.com.
