Katie Lewis is a sign language interpreter that interprets classroom instructions from teachers to deaf students in Texas and previously worked as an interpreter for the Red Sox before moving to the Lonestar State.

While living in Boston, Lewis submitted an audition DVD of her performing, but hadn’t heard back from the team over the three years since.

Apparently someone watched the video and was impressed.

Lewis said several weeks ago she unexpectedly received a call to see from a representative of the Red Sox to see if she was interested in singing at the game and she accepted.

Courtesy Photo Alpena native Katie Lewis took a selfie of herself on the field at legendary Fenway Park in Boston when she worked as an interpreter for the Red Sox. Even though she now lives in Texas, on Sept. 19 she will sing the national anthem on the field where many of her favorite players have played.

The game, scheduled for Sept. 19 at 1:10 p.m. against the Baltimore Orioles, is being promoted as Deaf, Hard of Hearing, Deafblind, and Late Deafened Night at the historic ballpark that is more than a century old.

Lewis said baseball and helping those who struggle with hearing loss are two of her passions. She said being able to honor America before the first pitch, and raise awareness for hearing loss is special to her.

“This is a double whammy for me,” she said. “I have been a baseball fan my entire life and to be able to sing, at Fenway, a magical place, for the purpose of promoting deaf awareness is a huge honor at every level.”

Lewis knows her baseball and understands she will perform on the same field as Red Sox hall of famers such as Ted Williams, Jimmie Foxx, Pedro Martinez, Carl Yaztrzemski, and Jim Rice excelled, and countless other stars from other teams pitched and hit.

She said her all-time favorite Red Sox player is Dustin Pedroia who retired from baseball in 2019.

Courtesy Photo Alpena native Katie Lewis took a selfie of herself with Boston Red Sox mascot Wally the Green Monster at a baseball game, Wally is named after the famed left-field wall at Fenway Park. Lewis will sing the national anthem at the stadium on Sept. 19.

Music is also something Lewis is passionate about, she said. She has recorded her own original songs, and performs live, although not in front of a crowd expected to be on hand for the third-place Red Sox.

Lewis said she has played in front of crowds of about 200 people. By comparison, Fenway has a capacity of more than 37,000 people, the team has averaged just over 20,000 paying fans each game so far.

It is hoped a large crowd will be at the game because a portion of every ticket sale will go to Our Deaf Survivors Center, Inc.

She will sing the song in the shadow of the famed Green Monster, which is the nickname for the 37-foot left field wall while an interpreter is doing sign language in unison with her for those in the crowd who can’t, or struggle, to hear.

“People who are deaf or struggle to hear are often overlooked by the hearing community,” she said. “To be able to sing, and support this effort, it is truly an amazing opportunity.”