Two local singers, 13-year-old Nicole and nine-year-old Dannika Bauman, sang “O Canada” at the Sleeman Centre in Guelph on Saturday, Feb.13.
For the past two years John McCabe, assistant coach for the Arthur Vipers Novice team has organized the opportunity for the Vipers to play during a Guelph Hurricanes Jr. B hockey game.?“The girls just happened to be at the right place at the right time,” said their mother Sheila Bauman. “John was organizing the event at the arena, we walked in and he said to Nicole, ‘Hey, you and your sister will sing “O Canada” at the game, won't you?’”?McCabe is Nicole’s Grade 8 teacher at Arthur Public School and according to Sheila he is always looking for ways to create new experiences for young people.?“He is a very positive role model and has a huge influence on all kids,” Bauman said.?Since Nicole and Dannika sing as a hobby, and their brother Jake and first cousin Bryan Richardson and second cousins Joel and Dylan Richardson play on the Vipers, having the sisters sing at the game seemed a perfect fit. The girls accepted.?Both girls are glad to have a fondness for music in common and enjoy performing together.?“It’s nice to have someone to sing with and not have to be by myself,” Dannika said.?Nicole thinks of singing as a way to express herself and enjoys singing meaningful songs.?Currently Dannika’s favourite song to sing is “538 Stars” by Tara Oram and she would like to learn “Fearless” by Taylor Swift.  Both Nicole and Dannika mentioned that performing at Arthur Public School's talent show was one of their favourite singing moments. They dedicated “538 Stars” to their cousin Bella who had been going through some rough times.?“She was there to hear us which made it pretty special,” Nicole said.?Dannika considers the possibility of singing professionally to be an interesting idea. Nicole can see herself one day singing in a band made up of her friends. Both girls enjoy Physical Education at school and Dannika also counts Geography as one of her favourite subjects. When Dannika grows up she would like to have a horse farm like her Uncle Bruce. Nicole would like to do something in the medical field.?Both girls have taken piano lessons for a number of years; Dannika also plays violin and Nicole has had some guitar lessons. Both girls sing with school choir when it is offered and on occasion at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church and at Arthur Fall Fair.?Singing at the Sleeman Centre was an exciting moment for both girls and opportunities continue to present themselves.?“Johnny Panic (John Redburn) told me maybe I could sing with him at the Friends for Life Concert when I turn 19!” said Dannika with excitement.