Meet the performers singing at the American Legion World Series

Each year, the American Legion World Series centers around ball players who spent the summer competing to make their way to the big contest in Shelby.

To lead off each one of those games, musicians are selected to perform the national anthem. Meet the people behind the voices, and here's when they'll perform at the games played at Keeter Stadium:

Thursday

10 a.m. Lindy Bryson is a 2022 graduate of Crest High School. She plans to attend Gardner-Webb University where she will major in Christian Studies with a minor in music. She currently serves as music intern at Ross Grove Baptist Church. Her plan is to become a worship leader. Her music can be found on music platforms by browsing “Lindy Bryson Originals”.

1 p.m. Betty Z. Taylor has worked at Cleveland Community College for 13 years. She has sung the national anthem for the American Legion World Series on numerous occasions. She says it is one of her most cherished songs.

4 p.m. Ralph Glenn is a Cleveland County native who performed as lead singer for almost three decades for the band Ocean Boulevard. Now retired, he sings in his church choir and is a longstanding member of the Cleveland County Choral Society.

7:30 p.m. Noah Messick is a bass-baritone singer currently attending Catawba Valley Community College in pursuit of an associate’s degree in music with plans to earn a bachelors and a doctorate. He won first place in the National Association of Teachers of Singing in the Classical Division at state level, second place at the Mid-Atlantic region level competition and most recently ranked in the top five singers in the nation after competing at the national level in Chicago. Noah plans to become a professional opera singer.

Friday

4 p.m. Philip Byrd relocated to Cleveland County from Tennessee where he and his wife sang gospel music for over 10 years. He currently serves as a deputy with the Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office.

7 p.m. Katie Turner is the golf course manager at Royster Memorial Golf Course. She has a tremendous love for singing and sings in the praise band at New Hope Baptist Church in Earl.

Saturday

1 p.m. Alton Beal is an evangelist and the president of Ambassador Baptist College in Lattimore where he also serves as mayor.

4 p.m. Neal Wilkinson is a gospel singer from Salisbury. He performed the national anthem at five major league ballparks throughout the country and American Legion baseball games for more than 20 years, including local, regional, state playoffs, as well as the 2019 and 2021 American Legion World Series.

7:30 p.m. Elizabeth Williams Taylor is a Shelby native and graduate of Shelby High School and Converse University with a bachelor of music degree in vocal performance. Following college she competed and was crowned Miss North Carolina 1982 and won swimsuit and talent scholarships in the Miss America pageant. She relocated to New York City where her professional career of singing and acting included performances on Broadway, Opera and symphonic stages across the USA, Canada, and internationally for 35 years.

Sunday

1 p.m. Sarah Fulton is a native of Waynesville and currently serves as director of choirs at Kings Mountain High School. She directs the award-winning ensembles Symphonic Chorale and Kings Revue. She has performed professionally at venues on the east coast as well as in Europe. She currently resides in Kings Mountain with her husband, Drew and their two children.

4 p.m. Larry Ray is a member of Post 82 where he serves as the First Vice Commander and membership chairman. He is also a former member of the gospel quartet “The Kingsmen” and has received numerous gospel-singing awards.

7 p.m. Julia DeSerio is a fourth-year teacher, presently at Crest Middle School, where she teaches chorus and piano. She is also involved in many civic organizations within the county. She has presented at both the North Carolina and the Alabama Music Educators Professional Conference and was nominated for Beginning Teacher of the Year for Cleveland County Schools. Julia served as Miss Gastonia through the Miss America Organization from 2019 through January 2022 where she earned a top 10 placement. She competed this June as Miss Sandhills, placing as second runner up.

Monday

4 p.m. Bailey Marie Grigg is a singer, songwriter from North Carolina. She works with several producers in Nashville and Los Angeles. She is currently focusing on building her career as a country, pop artist and has performed across the country at places such as the legendary Apollo Theater in New York City and the Roxy in Hollywood.

7 p.m. Resounding Glory has been singing together for approximately 12 years. The group members are Chuck Justice, Chris Triplett, Britt McSwain and Tyler Peterson. The group was formed originally at Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church. They enjoy spreading the gospel of Christ through music.

Tuesday

7 p.m. Carolina-The Band Performing the national anthem is a Club 44 National Recording Artist. Band members are Pastor Scott Whitener, Chris "Doc" Roberts, Chris Parker and Andy King.

This article originally appeared on The Shelby Star: Meet musicians to perform at American Legion World Series