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 now 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 most sought after voices across the world. In just a few years, Mary has performed for a number of U.S. Presidents, international royalty and great leaders across the world including President Donald Trump, President Barack Obama, President George W. Bush, Her Majesty Queen Noor of Jordan, Her Royal Highness Princess Basmah Bint Saud Bin Abdulaziz, Oprah Winfrey, His Royal Highness Prince Dimitrije "Dimitri" Karadordevic of Yugoslavia, Duke Carlos DeAlba (Royal Family of Spain), Her Excellency Mathilde Mukantabana, His Excellency Paolo Zampolli, Canadian billionaire & business magnate Jim Pattison, and many more. In addition, Mary has been a featured soloist at notable arenas including The White House, the United States Congress, the Kennedy Center, Major League Baseball, Off-Broadway, XLIII Superbowl Halftime Show w/Bruce Springsteen, the famed Copacabana, and more. 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 the58th Presidential Inaugural Committee. Click on images to view performances On Saturday, December 2nd, 2017, Mary performed the National Anthem for the Trump-Pence Victory breakfast for President Donald J. Trump at the Cipriani 42nd Street in New York, NY. Hosted by GOP Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel, the Republican National Committee, and the Trump Victory Committee, Mary was honored to be featured as the event’s headlining entertainment. Pictured: (left to right) Italian Race Driver and business/real estate/restaurant mogul Giuseppe Cipriani, Mary, David Weinreb, CEO of The Howard Hughes Corporation, Paul D. Schindler, Senior Chair of the New York Entertainment and Media Practice at Greenberg Traurig, & friends. On Tuesday, December 5th, 2017, Mary was featured in the front page cover story on the Trump-Pence Victory breakfast in Sing Tao Newspapers – the largest Chinese newspaper in the world with offices in China, Hong Kong (headquarters), USA (Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco), Europe (London), Canada (Calgary, Toronto, Vancouver), and Australia (Sydney and Melbourne). Mary is grateful to call Robin Mui, CEO of Sing Tao Newspapers, a treasured friend. Mary is delighted to have a strong relationship with Asia and the Asian-American community. Trump-Pence Victory/Republican National Committee breakfast for President Donald J. Trump in NYC 12/2/17. Pictured (left to right): Guest of Chiling Tong, Mary, Chiling Tong, National Asian/Pacific Islander American Chamber of Commerce and Entrepreneurship (ACE) President & CEO, and Yacun "Cherry" Huang, Chairwoman of the International Leadership Foundation (NYC) & Chairwoman of the New York Young Entrepreneurs Roundtable. Lunch in Chinatown NYC following Mary’s performance for the Trump- Pence Victory/Republican National Committee breakfast for President Donald J. Trump in NYC 12/2/17. Pictured: (left to right), Guest of Robin Mui, May Mui, Robin Mui, CEO of Sing Tao Newspapers, Mary, Chiling Tong, Yacun "Cherry" Huang, Cliff Zhonggang Li, Founder and CEO of eLaws.us/CommerNet, Inc and Executive Director of the National Committee of Asian American Republicans, and Cindy Yang, Asian-American Florida GOP. On Wednesday, May 9th, 2018, Mary was the headliner and featured artist for the 97th Annual Women’s National Republican Club Awards Gala in New York, NY. Mary performed a rousing redition of the National Anthem and a patriotic medley of ‘America the Beautiful/God Bless America.’ Pictured: Johnny President (Mary’s fiance), Mary, WNRC Board Member, Rev. Gerald E. Murray, J.C.D., The Honorable Loretta A. Preska, WNRC Board Member, NYC GOP Chairman The Honorable Ed Cox, BOLD TV Anchor/Mistress of Ceremonies Carrie Sheffield, WNRC Former President, WNRC President Robin Weaver, WNRC Gala Co-Chair Grace M. Iannuzzi, and WNRC Co-Chair Cherylyn A. Cieri. Pictured: Mary and Andrea Catsimatidis, daughter of John Catsimatidis and Manhattan GOP Chairwoman The Honorable Loretta A. Preska (WNRC Outstanding Public Service Award) and The Honorable Ed Cox (WNRC Republican Leaership Award) were honored at this year’s Gala. Mary paid tribute to Judge Preska, Chief Judge of the United States District District Court for the Southern District of New York, and NYC GOP Chairman Ed Cox with a medley of ‘America the Beautiful/God Bless America.’ Pictured left: Manhattan GOP Chairwoman Andrea Catsimatidis greets audience. Pictured bottom right: WNCR President Robin Weaver and BOLD TV Founder/Anchor and Mistress of Ceremonies Carrie Sheffield. Mary and Johnny at the head table with WNRC Board Member Donna and Richard Soloway (hosts) and NYC Republican Elite including prominent NYC GOP donors, His Royal Highness Prince Dimitrije "Dimitri" Karađorđević of Yugoslavia, Duke Carlos DeAlba (Royal Family of Spain) and wife Elaine L. Arozarena, Ed and Shari Rollins, Paola Pedrignani (Owner of Amaranth Restaurant), and more. Pictured above right: Johnny President (Mary’s fiancé), Mary, & Richard Soloway. Pictured left: Duke Carlos DeAlba (Royal Family of Spain), wife Elaine L. Arozarena, and Johnny President. Pictured below left: Richard Soloway, Mary, WNRC Board Member & Gala Co-Chair Cherylyn Cieri, and Duke Carlos DeAlba. Paolo Pedrignani (Owner of Amaranth Restaurant NYC), WNRC Co-Chair Cherylyn Cieri, WNRC Board Member Barbara Winston, and WNRC Board Member Donna Soloway. On Thursday, March 8th, 2018, Mary was the featured guest artist for His Excellency Paolo Zampolli, Permanent Representative of the Dominica to the United Nations, and guests for a private reception in New York, NY. Mary performed a rousing redition of the National Anthem and a patriotic medley of America the Beautiful/God Bless America. Pictured: Ambassador Paolo Zampolli and Mary Millben. Ambassador Paolo Zampolli Reception on March 8, 2018 in New York City. (March 7, 2018 - Source: Eugene Gologursky/Getty Images North America) Pictured: Richard Johnson (New York Post), Mary Millben, Ambassador Paolo Zampolli and Kimberly Guilfoyle ("The Five" - Fox News) attend the Ambassador Paolo Zampolli Reception on March 8, 2018 in New York City. (March 7, 2018 - Source: Eugene Gologursky/Getty Images North America) Pictured: Ambassador Paolo Zampolli and Mary Millben. Mary Millben performs at the Ambassador Paolo Zampolli Reception on March 8, 2018 in New York City. (March 7, 2018 - Source: Eugene Gologursky/Getty Images North America) Pictured: Ambassador Paolo Zampolli and Mary Millben. Ambassador Paolo Zampolli Reception on March 8, 2018 in New York City. (March 7, 2018 - Source: Eugene Gologursky/Getty Images