American Actress/Singer, Helen Hayes Award Nominee, and Recording Artist Mary Millben Has Been One of Oklahoma’S Best Kept Secrets – Until Now
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American Actress/Singer, Helen Hayes Award Nominee, and recording artist Mary Millben has been one of Oklahoma’s best kept secrets – until now. For Mary, singing in church started it all. Referred to as a "Songbird,’ at a young age, Mary quickly overcame stage fright when repeatedly called on to sing in church by her mother – now a retired Pentecostal, music pastor and former classical soprano. Thanks to her mother, who raised Mary and her siblings as a divorced single parent, it was just a matter of time before this preacher's kid would go from the plains of the Midwest to the stages of the world. Through high school and college, Mary proudly represented the state of Oklahoma in public arenas as a young leader - thrust in front of U.S. Presidents, world figures and corporate America as a voice for those underrepresented. Mary was the presidential runner-up at the American Legion Auxiliary 1999 Girls Nation, gubernatorial runner-up at Oklahoma Girls State, and the Oklahoma delegate at the 1998 Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership (HOBY) World Congress in Washington, D.C. In college, Mary was elected the second African- American female Student Body President and the first African-American female Vice- President at the University of Oklahoma (OU) – governing 30,000 students. While serving in student leadership, Mary was a featured singer for University dinners and private events hosted by former Oklahoma U.S. Senator, Governor and former President of OU, David L. Boren. As a professional student, Mary served the state of Oklahoma at the Oklahoma State Department of Education, Crowe & Dunlevy Law Firm, and later Press Secretary & Director of Communications for the Oklahoma Republican Party under former Chairman Gary Jones. Making her way to Washington, D.C., Mary served as a White House intern and White House Presidential Appointee to George W. Bush, wearing diverse hats as a junior staffer. But most of all, it was Washington, D.C. that gave Mary her start at a professional career in music. Thanks to the generosity of President Bush and First Lady Laura Bush, while serving The White House, Mary regularly performed for White House Christmas parties and tours, private political functions and even debuted with the National Symphony Orchestra at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts (Kennedy Center) with the late Marvin Hamlisch, who later served as a mentor to Mary. Today, Mary has become one of the world's new, celebrated voices. Mary has performed for three consecutive U.S. Presidents (President George W. Bush, President Barack Obama, and President Donald Trump) and performed the National Anthem at the 58th Presidential Inauguration Victory Celebration of President Donald J. Trump. Furthermore, to a crowd of more than 20,000 people and millions of viewers worldwide, Mary performed the National Anthem for President Trump’s official 2020 reelection kickoff rally at the Amway Center in Orlando, FL this past June. Mary has become a coveted go-to across the United States due to her rousing arrangements of America’s patriotic music. As an independent artist, Mary has performed at The White House, the United States Congress, Off- Broadway, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, for the National Football League (NFL), Major League Baseball (MLB), National Basketball Association (NBA), and the XLIII Super bowl Halftime Show with Bruce Springsteen, to name a few. She has performed for other notables including Oprah Winfrey, Her Majesty Queen Noor of Jordan, Her Royal Highness Princess Basmah Bint Al Saud, His Royal Highness Prince Dimitrije "Dimitri" Karadordevic of Yugoslavia, His Excellency Paolo Zampolli, Her Excellency Mathilde Mukantabana, and Canadian billionaire and mentor Jim Pattison to name a few. Mary has graced concerts halls all across the globe from Asia to Europe to Canada. American Singer and Helen Hayes nominee Mary Millben has had the great pleasure to perform for the 43rd U.S. President, 44th U.S. President, and now for the 58th Presidential Inauguration Victory Celebration of the 45th President of the United States of America - Donald J. Trump. Video caption of Mary performing at the 58th Presidential Inauguration Victory Celebration hosted by the Republican National Committee and Presidential Inaugural Committee at the National Building Museum on Wednesday, January 18th, 2017 in Washington, D.C. Approximately 3000 in attendance. Pictured: Former U.S. Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama, Broadway pianist Ken Lundie, and Sara Armstrong – CEO of the 58th Presidential Inaugural Committee. Click image for live performance at the 58th Presidential Inauguration of President Trump! On November 24th, 2019, Mary made her National Football League (NFL) debut performing the National Anthem for the Washington Redskins vs. Detroit Lions at FedEx Field in Washington D.C. All photos by Blake Belcher Photography! Click on image below to view performance! Mary sporting her alma mater, The University of Oklahoma, for sound check at FedEx Field Mary with the Native American Color Guard prior to performance Mary and fiancé Johnny President Mary and the Glam Squad: (left) Celebrity Hairstylist Tasha Gayman and (right) Celebrity Makeup Artist Janie Richardson Prince George's County and Washington, D.C. Police Department thanking Mary for her performance of the National Anthem. Mary thanks the NFL, Washington Redskins owner Dan Snyder, and the Washington Redskins organization, for the opportunity to perform. On November 11th, 2019, Mary was honored to perform in tribute to America’s WWII veterans and Gold Star families for the World War II 75th Anniversary Veteran's Day Commemoration Ceremony at the National World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C. Mary particularly enjoyed sharing the stage with the distinguished United States Navy Ceremonial Band. Click on image below to view performance! Photo Credit: Meredith Tibbetts, Stars & Stripes Mary sends a heartfelt thank you to Board Chairman of the Friends of the National World War II Memorial Josiah Bunting III, Jeffrey Reinbold and the National Mall and Memorial Parks, Jonathan Elias, ABC News journalist and Master of the Ceremonies, and Holly Rotondi, Executive Director of the Friends of the National WWII Memorial. Mary also thanks FOX News for covering her performance and the ceremony live HERE. Mary performing ‘America the Beautiful/God Bless America’ in tribute to America’s WWII veterans On Thursday, November 21st, Mary performed the American National Anthem and the Chinese National Anthem (in Chinese) for the 40th Anniversary of U.S.-China Student Exchanges at The Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Washington, D.C. Hosted by The Embassy of the People's Republic of China in coordination with The U.S. Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. Mary thanked His Excellency Cui Tiankai, Chinese Ambassador to the United States, and The Embassy of China for the kind invitation in a private meet/greet before her performance later in the evening. Mary made history becoming the first American and African-American artist to perform the Amerian National Anthem and the Chinese National Anthem (in Chinese) at The Embassy of the People’s Republic of China and for a live broadcast in China. Mary and His Excellency Cui Tiankai shared their love for Broadway composer Andrew Lloyd Weber and Broadway music in a private meet/greet before her performance. Mary was honored to perform the American National Anthem first honoring her love of country and celebrating the important relationship of the United States and China through music. Click on the image below see Mary’s performance of the American National Anthem! Mary next performed the Chinese National Anthem (in Chinese) celebrating her love for China and the patriotism of the Chinese people. Click on the image (to the left) see Mary’s performance of the Chinese National Anthem! November 2019 – Mary’s First National Interview with China Daily Click on image below to view interview! ‘ U.S. actress and singer Mary Millben has performed for three consecutive U.S Presidents: George W. Bush, Barack Obama and now President Donald Trump. Few people know, however, that she had a “life-changing” experience in China. For her first, national interview with China Daily, Mary sits down to discuss her close relationship with China and her journey in entertainment.’ China Daily – the largest English news portal (print and digital newspaper) in China and in the U.S, owned and published in the People's Republic of China. China Daily, established in 1981, has developed into a multi-media information platform combining newspapers, media, television, websites, social media platforms, and apps. It serves millions of readers all over the world and is a default choice for people who read about China in English. The group plays an important role as a channel for information exchanges between China and the rest of the world. Mary thanks China Daily Publisher & Editor-in-Chief Mr. Zhou Shuchun, China Daily USA President & Editor-in-Chief Ji Tao (New York), China Daily USA Vice-President Yuan Zhang (New York), and China Daily USA Washington, D.C. Bureau General Manager Leshuo Dong. Pictured: Mary and Leshuo Dong, China Daily Washington, D.C. Bureau General Manager and Interview Host Prior to the interview, Mary had a moment to visit with Ms. Dong, introduce her mentee Jonathan Randle (who is a senior at St. Stephens & St. Agnes studying Chinese), and Ms. Cancan Yang - Second Secretary of Education at The Embassy of the People's Republic of China. Ms. Yang, on behalf of His Excellency Ambassador Cui Tiankai and The Embassy of the People's Republic of China, presented an invitation to Mary to perform for the 40th Anniversary of the U.S.-China Student Exchanges. On Thursday, November 21st, Mary performed the American National Anthem and the Chinese National Anthem (in Chinese) for the 40th Anniversary of U.S.-China Student Exchanges at the Embassy of China in Washington, D.C.