Jim Cornelison

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. 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.

Jim Cornelison
Cornelison singing the Star-Spangled Banner.
Born (1964-06-20) June 20, 1964
Alma materSeattle Pacific University
Indiana University
Years active1995–present

Cornelison has been singing Back Home Again in Indiana at the Indianapolis 500 since 2017.

Cornelison also sang at the 2015 NASCAR myAFibRisk.com 400 race at Chicagoland Speedway.[4] Cornelison performed the National Anthem at the Bears' 2016 home-opener against the Philadelphia Eagles. He performed "Back Home Again in Indiana" at the Indianapolis 500 in 2017, 2018, and 2019.

He frequently sings 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]

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

  • The William Matheus Sullivan Foundation Award
  • First place in the American Opera Society of Chicago's 1997 Vocal Competition
  • The George London Foundation Encouragement Grant

References
  1. Johnson, Steve (June 6, 2010). "Of arias and anthems". Chicago Tribune.
  2. Morreale, Mike G. (2010-05-29). "Anthem in Chicago a tradition like no other". Chicago Blackhawks. Retrieved 2011-01-19.
  3. Dizikes, Cynthia (2011-01-18). "Cornelison to sing anthem for Bears; DeWyze maybe halftime". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2011-01-19.
  4. Modrowski, Roman (2011-05-02). "Jim Cornelison to sing anthem". ESPNChicago.com. Retrieved 2011-05-02.
  5. Staff Writer (2011-01-19). "JIM CORNELISON". Rubloff Residential Properties. Archived from the original on 2011-01-05. Retrieved 2011-01-19.
  6. Staff Writer (2011-01-19). "JIM CORNELISON". Chicago Blackhawks. Retrieved 2011-01-19.
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