March 16, 2026
The roar of the crowd echoed through Busch Stadium on Labor Day, September 1, 2025, as City Academy’s 4th-6th grade students proudly stepped onto the field. Forty members of our choir and violin ensemble, after six months of dedicated preparation, came together to deliver a moving rendition of “God Bless America.”
What began with two rehearsals in the spring carried into the summer, with many students continuing to practice on their own before returning in August. By the time the big day arrived, their confidence and musicianship had grown tremendously. “Of course our City Academy students are so great,” shared Violin Teacher Laura Reycraft. “They always want to be their very best, and we knew we could count on them to put their best foot forward. I am so, so proud of them.”
The stadium atmosphere only magnified the experience. Thousands of fans filled the stands, the students’ faces towering on the jumbotron as their voices and violins rang out across the ballpark. Friends and family lined the field’s edge, phones raised high to capture every second of the performance. “Just the whole performance was very cool,” Reycraft added. “I had never performed at the Cardinals game. Being down on the field is just a different experience from being in the stands.”
For Music Teacher Raechel Simon, the performance carried a personal connection. As a student herself, she had performed at Cardinals games with her school choir — both at the old stadium and the new one. Now, guiding her own students through this same opportunity felt like coming full circle. “Working with Laura was awesome,” Simon said. “I’ve loved the collaboration between the two of us and what we’ve been able to accomplish together. I think it was a great opportunity for our kids and to promote our school.”
The students embraced the entire process with maturity and joy. From learning how to manage performance nerves to uniting two musical groups — choir and violin — into one ensemble, each rehearsal brought growth. “They always came back better than the last time,” Simon reflected.
The experience didn’t just end at Busch Stadium. The group performed an encore at City Academy’s Buddy Morning on September 24, giving our community another chance to witness the talent, dedication, and heart of our young musicians. With hopes of making this a tradition, this Labor Day performance is just the beginning of what promises to be many memorable moments to come.