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Foster Showcases muscles and chords 1/25/2006
Complete silence. It isn’t something one would expect to hear at a Southeastern Conference basketball game with over 12,000 fans crammed into Vanderbilt’s Memorial Gym. But the crowd hushed on January 18 and it wasn’t because of fallen player or suspenseful free throw shot. The antsy crowd was silenced when one Vanderbilt track team member opened her mouth. Kasi Foster, a Vanderbilt shot-put competitor, performed her acapella rendition of the Star Spangled Banner and proved she had more than just muscles; the girl has serious pipes. Vanderbilt fans may know Foster as an athlete, but few know of her long history with music. While Foster’s father, a former collegiate athlete, helped her condition for track, Foster’s mother helped Kasi strengthen her chords. Cathy Foster is actively involved with gospel singing, and has been a long time member of her local church choir. “When I was little I always heard my mom singing around the house,” Foster said. “Then I heard Christina Aguilera’s song in the movie Mulan and I put everything together. I started realizing that I could sing and I began to develop my own style.” In addition to becoming the “national anthem girl” for her high school, Foster also won the highly competitive Show Choir Nationals solo competition for her performance of the Weather Girls’ It’s Raining Men. Even before she was officially committed to Vanderbilt, Foster’s multiple talents made an impression on Vanderbilt Head Coach Lori Shepard. “She was the only recruit in our history to come and sing to our team on her recruiting visit,” Vanderbilt Head Coach Lori Shepard said with a smile. “She really adds a cultural dimension to our team through music.” During her two and a half years at Vanderbilt, Foster has already developed a fan base: her teammates. Shepard discussed Foster’s performance at an unofficial SEC function last year. “We had an SEC chapel one morning before a competition and Kasi sang a beautiful gospel song. When she sat down our teammates and even the other teams were moved to tears,” Shepherd said. In her singing realm, Foster is currently known for singing the Star Spangled Banner. But even after singing the song over a hundred times, Foster never takes any performance for granted. “I usually listen to Whitney Houston’s version of the Star Spangled Banner before I sing. It really gets me inspired. I listen to that song and I just feel proud to be singing it,” Foster said. After her graduation, Foster plans to pursue gospel singing, and also has ambitions to start her own non-profit organization. “I see such a need for the community,” Foster said. “I helped my mom start her own organization, and she really got me started with helping people educate themselves about health issues and programs for youth.” Through music or service, Foster will undoubtedly use her talents to serve others when she finishes at Vanderbilt, just as she is doing now. “She has a focus in life and has definite goals and aspirations,” Cathy Foster explained. “But she also gets a personal enjoyment in knowing that she is giving something to others with her voice or by helping out.” But for now, Foster is focusing on her track training and classes. “My father told always tells that me that, ‘yeah, you can sing, but you need to get your education first,'” Foster said. ” But just being able to be here and both is a blessing.” |
