From Obama and Clinton to Boston sports, Portsmouth grad loves singing the national anthem

PORTSMOUTH – Emma Joanis admits she is not a “sporty” person by any imagination.

Joanis, a 2017 graduate of Portsmouth High School and 2021 graduate of New York University, is more comfortable performing on stage at either Hackmatack Playhouse in South Berwick, Maine, at a summer play at Prescott Park in Portsmouth, or auditioning for roles in New York City.

However, she often can be found singing ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’ at Fenway Park for a Red Sox game, at TD Garden for the Celtics or Bruins, at New Hampshire Motor Speedway, at Gillette Stadium for the New England Revolution, or countless other games or political events.

Joanis, by her estimate, has performed the "The Star-Spangled Banner" close to 100 times in her singing career, which began at Little League games in Windham back when she was 10 years old.

Joanis makes recent stop at Fenway Park

Joanis’ latest national anthem rendition found herself back at Fenway earlier this month ahead of a Red Sox game against the Philadelphia Phillies on June 12.

“I try to remember how lucky I am to have these moments,” Joanis said. “I get to bring my family on the field, and it’s really exciting for them, especially my dad, who is much more into sports than I am. It’s a fun experience for all of us.”

Now Joanis has, “by default,” become a fan of these teams she has performed for.

“I love the community aspect when I sing at these games, it’s exciting,” she said. “Even when I went to the (Red Sox) game, I never expect myself to get excited about the game, but I love being there, and love the excitement of it. I definitely don’t keep with the Boston sports teams, but all those teams have a special place in my heart.”

Performing for President Obama, Senator Clinton

Joanis has performed the ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’ ahead of a Sprint Cup race at New Hampshire Motor Speedway in Loudon, in Manchester for New Hampshire Fisher Cats, countless Little League games, and even some road races.

However, Joanis has also performed the country’s National Anthem for President Barack Obama during his 2012 re-election campaign when he was in New Hampshire, and for Hillary Clinton during her 2016 Presidential campaign.

“Some of the political events have been my most fun for sure,” Joanis said. “I get really excited when those come around. I’ve been able to meet a lot of amazing people.”

Is there a bucket list event?

“A New England Patriots game,” Joanis quickly said. “I haven’t sung the anthem for them yet, that would be cool; that would be the last one to check off the (Boston) list.”

How did Joanis get into singing national anthems?

When she was 11 years old, Joanis would sing at Little League games in Windham, New Hampshire where she and her family were living at the time.

“Someone casually approached my mom, said I did a good job and suggested she take me to an audition,” Joanis said. “Someone sent a video of me singing at a Little League game to the Red Sox, and they got in touch with me."

Joanis shortly later got a call from someone at the Red Sox.

“I sang at Fenway when I was 11, and then I auditioned separately with the Celtics and Bruins to be on their lists," Joanis said. "It just snowballed from there. We never really stopped hearing from people. I was back at Fenway and (the Garden) all the time through my childhood and teen years. All of the amazing opportunities and things I got to experience and see was so not normal for a kid my age.”

Will Joanis be back at Fenway this summer?

While nothing is currently booked with the Red Sox for the remainder of the season, something could always come back. She didn’t find out about her latest performance until just two nights before the game.

“I always want to (sing at Fenway), as long as I am available,” she said. “Luckily, most games I’ve been able to say yes.”

Finding her community, moving to Portsmouth

Joanis and her family moved to Portsmouth at the start of her senior year in high school.

For most, such a move would be difficult, but not for Joanis. Why not?

“It goes back to the performing arts community in Portsmouth,” she said. “I had so many friends here already growing up in the theater community, and doing shows at Prescott Park and Seacoast Repertory Theatre. I felt like I already had a community when I came here; the arts community is a big reason why my family was drawn to Portsmouth in the first place. It was an easy transition for me. I felt like I fit right in because of the performing arts.”

'Dream direction’

After graduating from New York University Joanis has been working, while chasing her dreams and auditioning for numerous projects.

“My dream is to do regional theater,” Joanis said. “Singing, acting, all that type of stuff has been my dream. I would love to act; that would be my dream direction. I would love to audition for films, really anything at all. Anyone who wants to be a performer can't be closed off. I am keeping myself open for anything and see where I land.”

Early theater career at Prescott Park

Joanis’ first performance at Prescott Park was in “Shrek” in 2014; two years later she was cast in “Little Mermaid.”

“Shrek is coming up on 10 years ago, wow,” Joanis said. “Prescott Park is such a fun venue. I just love Portsmouth, it’s so much fun. There is so much art in this community, which is really one of the things I love about it.”

Currently, Joanis is preparing for her role in the musical “Into the Woods” which runs from July 5-20 at Hackmatack Playhouse.

After "Into the Woods'" 15-day run, it’s back to New York City for Joanis, and her “regular person” job as an event manager at a venue in the West Village in lower Manhattan.

“I’ll keep on auditioning and doing all that stuff,” said Joanis. “My job keeps me busy there. I head back there in August and see where the wind blows me.”

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: From Obama and Clinton to Boston sports, Portsmouth grad loves singing the national anthem