Two Rancho Pico Junior High students took part Wednesday in a national celebration for the 50th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech and the march on Washington.
Twins Sydney and Shelbi Schauble, 11, of Stevenson Ranch, sang the national anthem at 11 a.m. Wednesday before several key speakers.
Their performance preceded a speech by President Barack Obama and several other notable speakers, including former President Jimmy Carter, who were recognizing the anniversary of the historic speech.
The girls, who are part of a trio with Kennedy Stephens, sing in a ‘tween pop group called Identity4Pop.
“We feel great,” Shelbi said, shortly after the performance in a text to her father, Chris, co-anchor of KTLA 5 Morning News from 4-7 a.m. on weekdays. “Everyone’s saying we did a good job.”
The girls attended a White House reception Tuesday night where they met the president and the first lady.
The group found out less than three weeks ago that they had earned the opportunity, based on a submission of two tapes, Chris Schauble said.
“Over the summer, they performed the national anthem on KTLA on July 4,” he said, “And then they did it at the Staples Center before a (July 25) Los Angeles Sparks game.”
The girls, who met in a singing class, have been together for more than a year. Stephens, 12, lives in Riverside.
“They just recorded their first song, and this is all part of the build-up to that kind of opportunity,” Schauble said. “They’ve been working very hard, like many children in L.A., they’re involved in singing lessons, dance, lessons, acting lessons.”
“I just stand back and watch — my wife manages our girls,” said Chris Schauble, of the couple’s four daughters.
The girls were accompanied by their mother, Katrina Schauble, who was supervising the girls.
The group also has a manager for their performances, he said.
“They’re happy and now they’re just inundated with calls,” Chris Schauble said. The seventh-graders return from D.C. Thursday.
Schauble Girls of SCV Sing National Anthem for U.S. Presidents at MLK Remembrance (Video)
