Friday, March 29, 2024

Burgett competes for repeat appearance as NFR National Anthem singer

One of three chosen in 2016

Posted

BREWSTER – Last year, Brewster resident and Gonzaga University graduate Alexandria (Allie) Burgett was one of three singers chosen by popular online vote to sing the National Anthem at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (NFR) in Las Vegas, Nev.
Burgett, who was a 22-year-old Gonzaga senior at the time, sang the Anthem at the Dec. 9 performance in the Thomas and Mack Center before 20,000 rodeo fans. She enjoyed the experience so much that she decided to enter the competition for a repeat performance again this year.
Out of thousands who applied and went through the elimination process between August 1 and Oct. 5, Burgett made it into the final eight candidates. This year the NFR narrowed the voting down to only two finalists, and Burgett just missed the cut announced on Oct. 6.
Burgett graduated Gonzaga in May 2017, with a major in Political Science and minor in Criminal Justice.
A person who knows her own mind, Burgett settled on GU early.
“I chose Gonzaga when I was about seven years old and had my heart set on it ever since,” said Burgett. “When the time came for me to really choose a college it was the best option in every way.”
Burgett didn’t wait for a college degree to enter the world of business. She started a custom woodworking business called Allie Burgett Custom Signs during her sophomore year at Brewster High School.
“I do not have as much time as I used to to keep it up, but I do my best because it is a really fun, creative outlet for me,” said Burgett, now employed at Thomason Law and Justice in Pateros.
Burgett has solid area roots with a father who was Pateros born and graduated Pateros High School and a mother raised in Brewster and a BHS alum. Her siblings include older brother, Chase, 27, younger sister, Claire, 17, and 12-year-old younger brother, Blake.
When she wasn’t busy making custom signs, Burgett also served as a lifeguard at the Brewster City Pool throughout high school.
 “I started singing as early as I can remember,” said Burgett. “Mostly just little things like Christmas programs at the Christian School in Brewster that I attended first through sixth grade.”
As she entered high school Burgett began performing anthems at sports events and participating in the Nashville Star Competition.
As Burgett tells it, she just “kept raising the bar” and progressed from singing at high school games to performing at Gonzaga athletic events, the Omak Stampede and the Seattle Mariners at Safeco Field.
“The NFR is definitely my favorite so far,” said Burgett of her singing venues. “I get to perform at a lot of other events throughout the year such as different fundraisers or local events.”
Burgett said her musical side is “a lot of fun and helps me keep in touch with what is going on in our local communities.”
Burgett said her current employment will keep her in the local area for a while “so I hope to become more involved in things like city council and local events.
“This area means a lot to me and I hope to give back to it for all the support and encouragement the people in it have offered to me throughout the years.” Burgett said.

brewster, NFR, national anthem, Seattle Mariners

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