Voices fill the space of the State Farm Center as anticipation grows for the IHSA Boys Basketball championship on March 12, 2026. The low hum of the crowd builds into a steady roar, sneakers squeak against polished hardwood floors, and bright arena lights cast a glow over the packed stands. And at the center of it all, all the nerves and excitement, stands junior Cristina Mariano, with a microphone in hand.
A hush suddenly falls over the room that moments before was filled to the brim with noise as Mariano is announced. She brings the microphone to her mouth, she takes a breath, and she begins.
Mariano is no stranger to standing alone in front of a crowd, relying solely on her voice to carry her through each performance. Yet, her selection to sing the national anthem at a state championship brought a new level of pressure, a substantially greater number of people in the crowd and an experience like no other.
In the last year alone, Mariano has proven herself to be a gifted vocalist, participating in choirs at the state level through the Illinois Music Education Association (ILMEA) programs and high-level, invitational recitals to showcase her abilities.
Mariano shared how her participation in ILMEA jump-started the opportunity to perform at the championship.
“The auditions first began in the ILMEA District Festival, where the top two vocalists per voice part got selected to audition in their district. I was one of the top two for Soprano 1, so I got the chance to audition again for All-State. In All-State, there was another audition, and it was what led me to be selected,” Mariano said.
However, her journey to the stage wasn’t an easy one. It was a journey that involved years of training, hard work and the ability to overcome one of her greatest fears.
Before her singing was ever taken seriously, it was a simple hobby loved by a little girl. Music has been an integral part of Mariano’s life for just over a decade, and she reflects on the earliest memories of its place in her life.
“The earliest I think I remember actually performing in an event was when I sang for my sister’s first birthday. I was six at the time, but I’ve been singing since I was probably around five years old. My mom always pushed me to perform in front of my family, but I never really felt attached to singing until eighth grade,” Mariano said.
For many, standing in front of a crowd totally isolated is the stuff of nightmares, and for Mariano, that fear was once all too real. Up until the last few years, this fear prevented her from reaching her full potential.
“I found it difficult to sing my best in front of a crowd. I still get really scared that I’ll forget the lyrics or my voice won’t hit a note. So, a lot of times, my nervousness is a hard obstacle that I have to overcome,” Mariano said.
Nonetheless, Mariano’s love for music eventually prevailed through the fears she faced, giving her comfort rather than worry when stepping onto the stage. The thing that she once feared most became something that gave her the power to navigate other areas of her life.
“I love to sing, and sometimes that’s definitely helped me get through some stressful moments,” Mariano said.
Her ability to overcome her fears and find confidence both as a performer and as an individual was evident to those around her, especially friends and family who had watched her grow as a performer for years to come. Sophomore and close friend Sophia Tisoc recalls the growth that has stood out to her most.
“When I first met [Mariano], she was a very shy performer, and it’s been interesting to watch her grow into a far more confident one. She still gets a little bit shy sometimes, but her vocals have gotten better, and with that comes confidence. Overall, she’s become a lot more confident through the years,” Tisoc said.
Choral director Joy Belt-Roselieb has had Mariano in her choir program for two years, and recognizes the importance of her having the courage to stand in front of a crowd, especially one of such a colossal size.
“[Mariano] had to prepare herself mentally and emotionally to go offer something very vulnerable. Because when you go to sing, you are sharing the most vulnerable part of your body and part of your soul. So I think it gives you incredible confidence as a person,” Belt-Roselieb said.
Junior O’Reily Dixon, another close friend of hers for numerous years, highlights his appreciation for her talent as well as the pride he felt as she took the stage.
“I became friends with her toward the end of middle school and was endlessly amazed by her abilities. I was so proud of how big an opportunity this was. She had an entire college-sized stadium near silent for her vocals, which makes me proud to call her a friend,” Dixon said.
Support from friends and mentors is one of the things that Mariano values, and she recognizes the pivotal role that they have played in her success.
“[I find my passion] through the constant encouragement of my voice teacher and my friends. My family, my teachers, [Belt-Roselieb] and Ms. [Jennifer] Martinez were all able to watch my performance from the side, and I really enjoyed having their support, too,” Mariano said.
The opportunity for a soloist to perform at a state level is a rare one, but it hasn’t gone unrecognized by the DGS community. Belt-Roselieb talks about how special the opportunity felt on a much larger scale.
“[Mariano] had to go through a lot of auditions, and she was continually moving through because everybody was just so amazed by her voice. I would say it’s rare and very significant. It just shows that the talent that she has is unique and stunningly beautiful,” Belt-Roselieb said.
Even from the perspective of a mentor, Belt-Roselieb believes that there is truly something special about Mariano, from her work ethic to the coloratura voice that rings across a room.
“The voice is such a beautiful, unique instrument because we’re all born with different voices. And [Marinao’s] unique instrument is just this tone, the beauty of her tone and her vibrato. And then the way she can use it, it’s just beautiful,” Belt-Roselieb said.
The operatic, natural timbre of Mariano’s voice is unique, especially in an era of pop singers and musical theater belters. And even after years of familiarity, Dixon expresses that he still finds himself admiring her voice every time.
“It’s just this entrancing tone of voice that has brought me to tears on more than one occasion,” Dixon said.
Mariano’s performance at the IHSA Boys Basketball championship hadn’t just reflected her talent, but reflected upon all of those who helped her along the way, and years of time, effort and dedication to her craft.
“This says that she is just an extremely strong performer and vocalist. She’s a powerhouse, and I don’t think there’s anybody else more deserving than her, truly,” Tisoc said.
