BGSU student, Abby Paskvan, will sing her heart out in front of thousands when she performs the National Anthem at the Republican National Convention.
Paskvan is a 20-year-old junior marketing major at BGSU, and although she has landed such a large singing gig, she says that she started off just singing the National Anthem for sporting events at the University.
“BGSU sporting events were the first National Anthems that I ever got to perform,” Paskvan said. “I have recently sang for the Cincinnati Reds. I think that I have done this for about four years now and I am sure it was probably that gig that landed me the GOP convention.”
Paskvan currently has five CDs released which were produced by well-known southern gospel artists Mike and Dean Hopper, and is currently working on a sixth. On her website, abbypaskvan.com, it states “Since releasing her first CD in 2009, she is beginning to make a name for herself within the Christian Music Industry.”
She has since then gained many awards and nominations including being named in the top 10 “Country Female Artists of the Year” by SGN Scoops Digital Magazine and was “named ‘Youth Artist of the Year’ by the Artist Music Guild and was nominated for 'New Excelling Artist of the Year’ by the fans of Christian Voice Magazine” in 2013 along with many other awards and accomplishments which can be found on her website.
Paskvan has also sung for the Cleveland Indians, Toledo Mudhens, Toledo Walleyes and the National Tractor Pull event. She shares how her love for singing all began at a very early age.
“I have been singing since I was 5,” she reveals. “I started singing for my church choir and things just took off from there. I sang in four choirs my senior year of high school and was in the BGHS madrigals.”
She explains how her biggest piece of advice to other aspiring singers is to stay humble and “Never be ashamed of your gift but know who gave it to you and use it for His glory.”
According to the http://convention.gop/about, RNC’s press release page, 50,000 people are expected to visit the Cleveland area during the event.
“I was watching the news this morning and heard Robin Roberts is at the convention and it kind of hit me how big this actually is,” Paskvan said. “I am a little nervous because of the caliber of this event. The security is crazy and I am mostly just praying for everyones safety at the convention. The world has been a crazy place lately and I just want this to be a safe place for its viewers.”
The National Republican Convention is set to be held at the Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, and Paskvan will be performing on July 20 at 7:45 p.m.
She says that her biggest inspiration musically is Whitney Houston. “When she sang for the Super Bowl she brought me to tears. I will never sound like her but she's amazing!”
Paskvan stays very involved with BGSU and is the Event Coordinator for CHAARG, on the campus H2o church worship team and is the Chaplin of Kappa Phi, the Christian service sorority.
When talking about her place as a falcon, she said, “I am obsessed with BGSU and don't plan on leaving any time soon.”
You can watch an interview of Paskvanon singing at the RNC by WTOL 11 and Fox 36 here:
