Renton Singer To Perform At Governor Inslee’s Inauguration

Renton’s own Lena Hou of Sierra Heights Elementary School will perform the National Anthem at Gov.-elect Jay Inslee’s inauguration Wednesday.

The 9-year-old fourth-grader currently lives in Renton with her parents and two brothers, one a 2012 Hazen High School graduate; the other is currently a first-grader at Sierra Heights.

Inslee invited Hou to sing at his inauguration after attending an event for Northwest Asian Weekly in December, where the budding singer made her first public performance of the National Anthem.

The following day Inslee emailed the family, said her mother Evelyn.

This isn’t Lena’s first invitation to perform. In 2011 she sang at a production of the "Fat Chance Opera Company." Since then she’s performed at a variety of other community events.

In preparation for the Governor Inslee’s inauguration, Lena has been practicing every day and feels honored to be singing at the ceremony.

Lena started taking vocal lessons at the age of 7 after showing interest in formal training.

Hou likes to sing because it is comforting and her favorite song styles are jazzy opera and pop. Her favorite song is "O mio babbino caro.” She is currently a member of the Seattle Youth Opera Chorus, which expects to debut in February.