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 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 image below for live performance! Based in New York and Washington, D.C., Mary has been in Los Angeles since Fall of 2015 recording original music with a number of award-songwriters including Steve Dorff – 2018 Songwriters Hall of Fame Inductee, three-time Grammy and six-time Emmy nominee, Michael Levine - Governor of the Emmys Television Music Academy, and more. Steve Dorff, Producer - Greg Phillinganes, Piano/Organ/Keys, - George Doering, Guitar - Neil Stubenhaus, Bass – John Robinson, Drums - John Guess, Recording and Mix Engineer - Michael Woodrum, Recording Engineer and studio – Album Choir: Julia Waters, Maxine Waters, Oren Waters, Carmen Carter, Bobbi Page, Clydene Jackson, Dorian Holley, Alvin Chea, and Kevin Dorsey. Mary migrated to Los Angeles with one desire in mind: to discover her voice in original music. Teaming up with Steve Dorff, Mary did just that. Among other original songs, Mary's new single "Grace Will Lead Me Home" was birthed in collaboration with Steve. “Grace Will Lead Me Home” is the closing song in the new film “The Meanest Man in Texas,” directed by Justin Ward, and produced by award-winning producers Brad Wilson and Casey Bond. Premiering in film festivals all over the United States, the film has garnered over 40 awards and nominations. "Grace Will Lead Me Home" was nominated for 'Best Song' in the 2017 Nashville Film Festival. Recently, "Grace Will Lead Me Home" and the film received the award for 'Best Picture' from Influx Magazine - the 5th 'Best Picture' award for "The Meanest Man in Texas. On April 9th, 2017, Mary made her national television debut performing her new single "Grace Will Lead Me Home" on BET's inspirational show 'A Joyful Noise.' “Grace Will Lead Me Home” is available now on ITunes, Spotify, Google Play, YouTube Music, and all leading digital platforms across the world. “The Meanest Man in Texas” and “Grace Will Lead Me Home” premieres in 2019! 2017 Worldwide Release of Mary’s First Single – “Grace Will Lead MeHome” - Available on ITunes, Spotify, YouTube Music, and all leading digital platform. Click on image below for live performance! 2017 National Television Debut – ‘Spotlight Artist’ – A Joyful Noise – BET Network http://m.newsok.com/video-oklahoma-native-and-gospel-singer- mary-millben-makes-national-tv-debut-releases-debut- single/article/5546484. Mary debuting new single 'Grace Will Lead Me Home' in Vancouver, British Columbia. One of Canada's leading churches, Coastal Church is one church with four locations spanning across Vancouver with the main campus situated in beautiful downtown Vancouver. Mary is grateful to call Coastal Church Pastors Dave and Cheryl Koop dear friends and Coastal Church her new family. Dress by Ted Baker. On Thursday, July 13th, 2017, Mary joined Steve Dorff in concert at the Iridium in New York. In her guest appearance, Mary debuted her second, original single recorded with Steve, "Faith in Love." “Faith in Love” is available on all leading digital platforms worldwide! “Mary has a wonderful and unique understanding of the material she is singing," Steve shares. "An amazing range and beautiful voice that gives a producer lots of options as to how to approach a performance.” Click on image below for live performance! On October 29th, 2018, Mary was the featured entertainment for the 25th Anniversary of the US Holocaust Memorial Museum tribute dinner in New York honoring Museum Chairman and friend Howard M. Lorber. Closing with a rousing rendition of "God Bless America," Mary was a part of contributing to the evening which raised over $4 million dollars for the Museum and its continuing legacy. The evening became a solemn reflection on the anti- semitic massacre at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh just two days before and a stark reminder of the profound continuing need to educate people about the dangers of unchecked hatred and antisemitism. A moment of silence for the victims was observed during the dinner, with Ambassador Danny Danon, Israel’s Permanent Representative to the UN, joining to express the solidarity of the people of Israel with the American Jewish community. Photos by: Michael Priest Photography During the anniversary event, the Museum presented its highest honor, the Elie Wiesel Award, to all Holocaust survivors from the greater New York area for their courage and resilience and for inspiring the global movement for Holocaust remembrance and education, which the Museum leads today. More than anyone else, the existence and twenty-five-year success of the Museum are due to the survivors. Photos by: Michael Priest Photography The Museum presented its National Leadership Award to Museum chairman Howard Lorber. Lorber, the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Vector Group, and Chairman of Douglas Elliman, received a presidential appointment in 2017 to serve as Museum Chairman. The Museum's National Leadership Award is presented to outstanding individuals who have made an exceptional commitment to advance the Museum’s mission of Holocaust remembrance and education. The evening concluded with Mary performing “God Bless America,” evoking Jessye Norman’s performance of the same song 25 years earlier at the Museum’s dedication ceremony. As Museum Founding Chairman Elie Wiesel said, “The Museum is not an answer. It’s a question.” In the short time since its founding, the Museum has grown from a major national institution into a respected global enterprise leading the cause of Holocaust remembrance and education. In April, the Museum