Addison Trail alumna performs during historic Barack Obama Presidential Center grand opening ceremony

Addison Trail alumna Angela “Ella” Anello (class of 2024) performs during the grand opening ceremony for the Barack Obama Presidential Center on June 18 in Chicago. Photo at left: Anello is the third person to the right of former First Lady Michelle Obama. Photo at right: Former U.S. President Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, watch as members of Uniting Voices Chicago perform during the grand opening ceremony for the Barack Obama Presidential Center. Anello is pictured at right.

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Addison Trail alumna Angela “Ella” Anello (class of 2024) recently experienced a historic, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Anello was part of the grand opening ceremony for the Barack Obama Presidential Center on June 18 in Chicago. She performed with Uniting Voices Chicago (www.unitingvoiceschicago.org), alongside several well-known artists. According to https://www.obama.org/visit/grand-opening/livestream, the event featured musical performances by Bruce Springsteen, Christina Aguilera, Common, Eddie Vedder, Guitars Over Guns, Jennifer Hudson, John Legend, Marc Anthony, Stevie Wonder, Tems, U2’s Bono and The Edge.

To watch the ceremony and Anello singing, go to https://www.obama.org/visit/grand-opening/livestream.

During her time as a student at Addison Trail, Anello achieved many musical successes, including being selected to participate in the 2023 Illinois High School Theatre Festival (IHSTF) All-State production of “Shrek The Musical.” She was chosen as part of the cast and performed as the dragon, which included a dynamic solo.