Jim Cornelison Explained

Jim Cornelison
Birth Date:20 June 1964
Alma Mater:Seattle Pacific University
Indiana University
Years Active:1995–present

James Cornelison (born June 20, 1964)[1] is an American singer who sings "The Star-Spangled Banner" and "O Canada" at the beginning of home games for the Chicago Blackhawks, accompanied by organist Frank Pellico. Cornelison started singing the anthem for the Blackhawks part-time in 1996;[2] he has been singing the national anthem for the Blackhawks full-time since 2007. Cornelison has sung "Back Home Again in Indiana" at the Indianapolis 500 since 2017. He has also performed the anthem before Chicago Bears home games at Soldier Field during the 2010–11 NFL playoffs,[3] as well as the 2011 season opener against the Atlanta Falcons, which fell on the tenth anniversary of the September 11 attacks. He also sang the National Anthem at the home opener of the 2019 season, the opening game of the 100th anniversary of the NFL.

Cornelison also sang at the 2015 NASCAR myAFibRisk.com 400 race at Chicagoland Speedway.[4] He performed the National Anthem at the Bears' 2016 home-opener against the Philadelphia Eagles.

He frequently sang the national anthem at the opening ceremonies for the Arlington International Festival of Racing at Arlington International Racecourse in the northwest suburbs of Chicago.

Cornelison graduated from Seattle Pacific University with degrees in music and psychology. He then went on to earn a master's degree in music from Indiana University in 1992. In 1995, he moved to Chicago and joined the Lyric Opera Center for American Artists.[5]

Awards

Cornelison has won several awards[6] for music, including:

Notes and References

  1. News: Of arias and anthems. June 6, 2010. Steve. Johnson. Chicago Tribune.
  2. News: Mike G.. Morreale . 2010-05-29 . Anthem in Chicago a tradition like no other. . 2011-01-19 .
  3. Web site: Cynthia. Dizikes . 2011-01-18 . Cornelison to sing anthem for Bears; DeWyze maybe halftime . . 2011-01-19 .
  4. Web site: Roman . Modrowski . 2011-05-02 . Jim Cornelison to sing anthem . . 2011-05-02 .
  5. Web site: Staff Writer . 2011-01-19 . JIM CORNELISON . Rubloff Residential Properties . 2011-01-19 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110105201528/http://rubloff.com/agents/chicago_-_2663_n_halsted/james_cornelison.cfm . 2011-01-05 .
  6. Web site: Staff Writer . 2011-01-19 . JIM CORNELISON . . 2011-01-19 .