Friday, July 11, 2024
Contact: Linh Hoang 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Email: ed@ileader.org

Washington, DC – The International Leadership Foundation (ILF) is proud to announce that acclaimed singer and actress Mary Millben will deliver a headline performance at its 2025 Gala on July 24 at the Capital Hilton Hotel in Washington, D.C. A celebrated artist known for her powerful vocals and global presence, Millben’s performance will be one of the evening’s most anticipated highlights, honoring the Foundation’s mission of inspiring future leaders and celebrating contributions to public service, business, and philanthropy.

Award-winning International Singer/Actress Mary Millben is a story of the American dream, and a brand rooted in God, American patriotism, and love of country. A global symbol for faith, freedom and unity, Mary is uniquely gifted to stir spirits across the world in settings of patriotism, global causes, and gatherings of world leaders.

A preacher’s daughter from Oklahoma, Mary is an American product that transcends cultural borders. Rising from humble Midwestern roots, to working for a U.S. President and The White House, now performed for five consecutive U.S. Presidents, world leaders, and foreign dignitaries, a respected cultural ambassador across the world – Mary is an inspiring symbol of youth, conservatism, patriotism, and diplomatic alliance through cultural diplomacy.

A unique career that began as a White House Presidential Appointee to President George W. Bush paved the way for Mary now recognized as one of the world’s celebrated voices in music. Coined as America’s “National Anthem Singer” across America, Mary has performed the National Anthem and patriotic music for five consecutive U.S. Presidents – 43rd President George W. Bush, 44th President Barack Obama, 45th President Donald Trump, 46th President Joe Biden, 47th President Donald Trump, international royalty, and world leaders. Mary has been featured at the 60th Presidential Inauguration of President Trump, 58th Presidential Inauguration of President Trump, The White House, the United States Congress, 2024 FOX Nation Patriot Awards, 2024 Wrangler National Finals Rodeo, 2024 International Cricket Council T20 World Cup, 2024 Republican National Convention, for the National Football League (NFL), National Basketball Association (NBA), Major League Baseball (MLB), 2016 RIO Olympics, off-Broadway, in India, China, Europe, Canada, Africa, and in concert halls worldwide.

Invited by President Donald Trump, First Lady Melania Trump, and the Trump Inaugural Committee, Mary performed the National Anthem for the 60th Presidential Inauguration Official Liberty Ball hosted by the 47th President of the United States Donald J. Trump and First Lady Melania Trump.  Mary followed this performance performing ‘America the Beautiful/God Bless America’ at The White House Black History Month reception alongside President Trump and American Professional Golfer Tiger Woods.

July 2024 and aired live worldwide, Mary performed the National Anthem at the 2024 Republican National Convention just prior to President Donald Trump accepting the GOP nomination as the 47th President of the United States.  Mary followed this performance performing the National Anthem for President Trump’s historic Madison Square Garden Rally – the largest political rally in American history and largest event at Madison Square Garden.

Musically, Mary is an original lane – a trained coloratura and a career based in global patriotism, global anthems, and world music. Through robust orchestrations of America’s patriotic music and global performances of international anthems, Mary has mastered cross-over appeal to more broad and cultural demographics. Mary has gained worldwide recognition for her captivating vocal prowess and stirring performances of global national anthems and patriotic songs of the United States, Africa, Canada, Europe, the Middle East, and specifically India, China, Brazil, UAE, and Israel.

Mary is a United States State Department cultural envoy and regarded as a cultural ambassador across the world for her effective leadership in cultural diplomacy, interfaith dialogue, and advocacy for global inclusion. Mary’s artistic career has a very intimate perspective and inside relationship with American politics and Washington, D.C., blessed with bipartisan support from the United States Senate and United States House of Representatives leadership.

October 2022, Mary returned to the theatrical stage playing the historical figure Elizabeth Keckley in the new Broadway-bound musical and world premiere of The Lincolns of Springfield debuted at Center Stage Theater in Santa Barbara, CA. Directed by four-time Tony Award winner and 12-time Tony Nominee Corey Brunish, alongside playwright, lyricist, and composer Terrence L. Cranert. Mary made her New York debut at the Westchester Broadway Theatre starring in Ray Roderick’s Gershwin musical ‘S Wonderful. June 2019, Mary starred in the world premiere of Tazewell Thompson’s play Jubilee at Arena Stage’s premieres of Sophisticated Ladies and Crowns, for which she received a Helen Hayes Award nomination. Mary has headlined solo 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.

Mary was named to Ideagen’s 2020 Power 10 List – 10 Global Leaders Empowering Women & Girls alongside Oscar/Emmy/Tony Award Winning Actress Viola Davis; Melinda Gates – Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Co-Chair; Kate Johnson – MicrosoftUS President; Adena Friedman – CEO of Nasdaq; Jo Ann Jenkins – CEO of AARP, and more. Mary is a passionate and devoted advocate for women and girls across the world.

February 2020, Notefornote Entertainment released Mary’s debut single “Grace Will Lead Me Home” on THE MEANEST MAN IN TEXAS original motion picture soundtrack now on all leading digital platforms globally and received Academy Award/Oscar eligibility. Produced with 2018 Songwriter Hall of Fame Inductee, three-time Grammy/six-time Emmy nominee Steve Dorff and lyrics by two-time Emmy Award winner and four-time Grammy nominated songwriter Maribeth Derry. “Grace Will Lead Me Home” was written for THE MEANEST MAN IN TEXAS, now available on Amazon Prime Video.

Mary is a former global ambassador for Education Africa, a non-profit bringing educational opportunity and arts education to South Africa’s poorest communities.  Equally, Mary is a noted advocate for the ideals of freedom and free enterprise, creating opportunity for marginalized communities, small business, children, arts education and school choice, and the empowerment of women and girls across the world. Mary earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Oklahoma’s prestigious Weitzenhoffer Department of Musical Theatre, a minor in political science, and completed studies and fluency in Mandarin in China – Xi’an University, Kunming University, Peking University, and Fudan University.