"I am waiting for the day..." - Ellsworth Airman selected for final audition with "Tops in Blue"

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Jarad A. Denton
  • 28th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, S.D. --  When Lindsay Zachrey signed her enlistment contract into the U.S. Air Force one of her goals was to perform with the singing group "Tops in Blue."

Now, Airman 1st Class Zachrey, 28th Logistics Readiness Squadron vehicle operations technician, is preparing to leave for San Antonio to attend her final audition with the group, Dec. 5.

Airman Zachrey originally auditioned for the group in August, when they came to Ellsworth Air Force Base. She waited a month for the results to come in.

"It was a total shock," she said. "They called me up in front of the flight to hear the results. I was so nervous. I felt like I was going to pass out."

After only a few years of singing, Airman Zachrey became one of the few Airmen selected to compete in the final audition for a slot with Tops and Blue.

"I've always been musical," she said. "But, I didn't know I could sing until my freshman year of high school."

Airman Zachrey said she picked choir because she needed an elective to graduate. That decision led her to numerous awards and achievements, including being selected for the Michigan State Honors Choir - three times. Now she turns her focus to making it through the last round of auditions with Tops in Blue.

"I'm going to sing 'Memory' from the musical 'Cats' at my audition," she said. "I'm hoping they like it."

As she makes her final preparations to go, Airman Zachrey is leaving with the support of her entire shop.

"Everyone was really happy for her when we heard she'd been selected," said Tech. Sgt. Joseph Berzett, 28th LRS vehicle operations center support supervisor. "She can sing really well and we all have high hopes for her."

Airman Zachrey said she is honored to have come this far and won't be overly disappointed if she isn't selected for the group.

"Even if I don't make it, I'm still excited to have come this far," she said. "Besides, there's always next year."