Mary Millben

Mary Millben (born Mary Jorie Millben) is an American singer and actress. Millben has had the honor to perform for three consecutive U.S. Presidents including the 43rd President George W. Bush, the 44th President Barack Obama, and for the 58th Presidential Inauguration Victory Celebration of the 45th President of the United States of America - President Donald J. Trump. On June 18, 2019, to over a crowd of more than 20,000 people and millions of viewers worldwide, Millben performed the National Anthem for President Trump's official 2020 reelection kickoff rally at the Amway Center in Orlando, FL.

February 2019, Millben made her National Basketball League (NBA) debut performing the National anthem for the Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Orlando Magic NBA game in her hometown of Oklahoma City, OK. In April 2019, Millben was the featured entertainment for the 2019 Heritage Foundation Leadership Conference in Dana Point, CA.

May 2019, Millben was honored to join Academy Award nominated/Golden Globe and Emmy Award-winning actor Gary Sinise, and the Gary Sinise Foundation at Ft. Belvoir military base for the 2019 Invincible Spirit Festival. Millben performed the National Anthem in support of America's troops, veterans, and beloved military families.

June 2019, Millben starred in the world premiere of Tazewell Thompson's play Jubilee at Arena Stage in Washington, D.C.

September 2019, Mary performed the National Anthem for President Trump and guests at the 2019 Trump-Pence Victory Breakfast at the Cipriani 42ndStreet in New York.

October 2019, Millben was the headlining entertainment for the 2019 Values Voter Summit and performed following remarks from President Trump at the VVS “Faith, Family, & Freedom Gala in special tribute to Pastor Andrew Brunson.

November 2019, Millben was honored to perform a patriotic 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. Performance and hosted by Friends of the National WWII Memorial. Performance.

Upon invitation from His Excellency Cui Tiankai, Chinese Ambassador to the United States, Millben 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. on November 21st, 2019. Millben is the first American and African-American artist to perform the American National Anthem and Chinese National Anthem (in Chinese) at The Embassy of the People's Republic of China. Hosted by The Embassy of the People's Republic of China in coordination with The United States Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.

Millben made her National Football League (NFL) debut performing the National Anthem for the Washington Redskins vs. Detroit Lions game on NFL Sunday November 24th, 2019.

December 2019, Millben was the featured entertainment for the 25th Anniversary Gala and “Business by the Book” breakfast hosted by Pastors Dave and Cheryl Koop, and Coastal Church in Vancouver, B.C.

Millben's debut single "Grace Will Lead Me Home,” was written for the new feature film The Meanest Man in Texas, directed by Justin Ward, and produced by Brad Wilson and Casey Bond. Millben recorded "Grace Will Lead Me Home" with composer Steve Dorff, and lyrics by Maribeth Derry. Millben made her national television debut performing “Grace Will Lead Me Home” on BET's '‘A Joyful Noise'’ inspirational show. Millben's second single, “Faith in Love,” was also recorded with Steve Dorff with Matt Rollings on piano.

In 2018, Millben was a featured soloist for The Howard Hughes Corporation Seaport District NYC "Sea of Light" Opening Night Winter Show; Annual Ideagen Global Leadership 2030 Summit; 2018 Leukemia Ball - the largest, black-tie charity event in Washington, D.C.; 2018 International Leadership Foundation Gala; 2018 Inaugural National Women's Half Marathon & 8k; 2018 Women's National Republican Gala; 2018 Republican National Committee Trailblazers Luncheon

September 2018, Millben was the featured entertainment for the Family Research Council 2018 Values Voters Summit in Washington, D.C. Millben was honored to perform the National Anthem prior to America's top political leaders including Vice-President Mike Pence, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Secretary of Housing & Urban Development Ben Carson, and U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.

October 2018, Millben was the headlining entertainment and featured soloist for the 25th Anniversary of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum New York tribute dinner honoring President and Chief Executive Officer of the Vector Group and Chairman of Douglas Elliman Howard M. Lorber. Millben was a part of contributing to the evening which raised over $4 million for the Museum and its continuing legacy. The evening concluded with Millben performing “God Bless America,” evoking Jessye Norman's performance of the same song 25 years earlier at the Museum's dedication ceremony.

In 2017, Millben was a featured soloist for the Trump-Pence Victory Breakfast for President Donald Trump in New York at the Cipriani 42nd Street; 2017 ICE Foundation Gala; Hamptons Annual Blue Dream Gala; and the 11th Annual Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America Heroes Gala (IAVA) alongside special guests Late Night Show host Stephen Colbert, NBC/MSNBC Anchor & Sunday TODAY Host Willie Geist, Meghan McCain, and others.

In 2016, Millben was the featured entertainment and debuted her new original song "Dream Big" at the 2016 US Olympic Announcement Ceremony for USA Team Fencing in preparation for the Rio Olympics. Millben was accompanied by The Joyce Garrett Singers - the annual choir for the Kennedy Center Honors, Super Bowl Halftime Show and Christmas In Washington Special on TNT. Millben was also the featured entertainment at the Black Women's Agenda Conference held at the Renaissance Hotel in Washington, D.C. on September 16, 2016 alongside keynote speaker and presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.

Millben was the featured entertainment for the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture Opening grand opening dinner for six-figure donors on September 24, 2016 in Washington, D.C. - accompanied by The Joyce Garrett Singers.

In 2014, as part of the Shenson Chamber Music Concert Series, Millben headlined a sold-out, solo concert in tribute to late mentor Marvin Hamlisch at the National Museum of Women in the Arts in 2014. Millben was the featured artist for the 20th Commemoration of the Rwandan Genocide hosted by Her Excellency Ambassador Mathilde Mukantabana and the Embassy of Rwanda on April 7, 2014 at The Mayflower Renaissance Hotel in Washington, D.C. Millben was also the featured soloist for The Links, Incorporated 39th National Assembly at The Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center at National Harbor.

In 2013, Millben headlined a solo concert for Europe's celebration of Black History Month in Zagreb, Croatia hosted by Kenneth H. Merten, former U.S. Ambassador to Croatia, and the U.S. Embassy Zagreb at the VIP Club. At the end of the year, Millben was the headliner for the 2013 Copacabana ‘Broadway Royale’ New Year's Eve Show in New York.

In March 2012, she made her New York theatre debut at the Westchester Broadway Theatre starring as Nina Mae McKinney in Ray Roderick's Gershwin musical ‘S Wonderful. That summer Millben completed her first demo recording titled, “Introducing Mary Millben.” She was the featured soloist for President Barack Obama at the George Mason University rally in Fairfax, Virginia on Oct. 5th, 2012.

Millben honored during the 2012 National Women's History Month at the Caribbean American Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Brooklyn, New York for her contributions to the advancement of women and minority enterprises in the State of New York.

In 2011-2012, Millben was the soloist for the 102nd NAACP National Convention in Los Angeles, California, and at the Fame-Wall/Actor's Fund New York fundraiser. In December 2011, she sang for the Obama White House Holiday Season as a featured soloist. In 2012, she was a guest soloist for the 2012 Theatre World Awards reception, and a featured soloist for President Barack Obama and campaign supporters at a private campaign event held in McLean, VA.

Millben is a 2010 Helen Hayes Award Nominee, has performed in theatre across U.S. and been a featured soloist at The White House, the United States Congress, Off-Broadway, the John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts, for Major League Baseball (MLB), National Basketball Association (NBA), National Football League (NFL), and a backup chorister for the XLIII Super Bowl Halftime Show with Bruce Springsteen. In addition, Millben has been a featured soloist for notable world leaders 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, Her Excellency Mathilde Mukantabana, and Canadian billionaire and mentor Jim Pattison. Millben has graced concerts halls all across the globe from Asia to Europe to Canada. Millben has headlined concerts at popular New York venues including The Copacabana, Joe's Pub at The Public Theater, The City Winery, The Cutting Room, and featured at the Iridium.

In 2010, Millben was hired as an understudy and went on to co-star alongside Broadway legend Maurice Hines in Sophisticated Ladies with Arena Stage at the Lincoln Theatre in Washington D.C. Millben performed alongside Bill Cosby at the 2010 Best of Black Business Awards ceremony. She starred as Sister Pauletta Denise Jones in the Washington D.C. 2010 premiere of a new musical, Sanctified. A review in the Washington Examiner praised her strong soprano voice.

In 2009, Millben left the government and accepted the role of Wanda in an equity show, Crowns, at Arena Stage. The show premiered at the Lincoln Theatre in Washington D.C. April 2009. Beginning fall 2009, Millben performed the role of Dee in the Kennedy Center Theater for Young Audiences six-month tour of Chasing George Washington, written by playwright Karen Zacharias.

Millben was a guest soloist, with Grammy Award winner Tramaine Hawkins, for the inauguration of The Honorable Barbara Lee (D-California) at the Congressional Black Caucus ceremonial swearing-in at the United States Capitol in Washington D.C., a back-up singer for Bruce Springsteen and Beyonce in the 2009 “We are One” Obama Lincoln Memorial inaugural concert, and backup singer for the Super Bowl XLIII halftime show with Bruce Springsteen.

In 2008-2009, Millben took part in local community theatre in the Washington Metropolitan area, playing the lead role of Patience in Patience with the Georgetown University Gilbert & Sullivan Society, Kate in Pirates of Penzance with the Washington Savoyards and Rosemary in The Eccentricities of a Nightingale with American Century Theater.

Furthermore, Millben was a background vocalist in the Barbra Streisand tribute at the 2008 Kennedy Center Honors and a soloist in the 2008 National Symphony Orchestra Pops conducted by the late Marvin Hamlisch. Millben was invited by former First Lady Laura Bush as a guest soloist for the 2008 White House Holiday Season.

In 2005, Millben worked as a summer White House intern for President George W. Bush and as a White House presidential appointee for President George W. Bush from September 2006 to January 2009.

Governing over 30,000 students Millben was elected the second OU African-American female Student Body President in 2004 and the first OU African-American female Vice-President in 2003. She was one of four who represented the University at the National Campaign for Political and Civic Engagement at Harvard University in 2004 and, appointed by U.S. Congressman Tom Cole, was an Oklahoma delegate to the 2006 African American Leadership Summit in Washington, D.C. - a national conference organized to bring together government leaders and prominent African Americans around the country to discuss policy, strengthen collective efforts and expand leadership roles for African Americans in the American politics.

Millben studied opera at the University of Oklahoma (OU) under tenor Don Bernardini. She performed in OU student productions; she was a member of the ensemble in Guys & Dolls and Good News in 2002, played the role of Mama Maddelena in Nine, Chanteuse in Cabaret, and Josephine Strong in Urinetown. In 2002, she also edited and co-authored the OU Press book What Possibilities, a Guide to Opportunities and Traditions, detailing the history and traditions of the University of Oklahoma.

Millben attended Putnam City High School. She was a presidential candidate at the 1999 American Legion Auxiliary Girls Nation and Oklahoma Girls State conferences, and the Oklahoma delegate at the 1998 Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership (HOBY) World Congress in Washington, D.C. Millben received the State of Oklahoma Commemoration Award for excellence and achievement in leadership as a student leader in 1999.

Millben was born and grew up in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. She is the daughter of Rev. Michael Millben, a Baptist and Pentecostal minister. Her mother, Rev. Althea Millben is a classically-trained soprano and a retired Pentecostal music pastor. Millben started singing at the age of five in the children's choir at Wildewood Christian Church in Oklahoma City. Her parents divorced in 1987 and Millben was raised by her mother.