Joe's Pub at The Public Welcomes New American Singer Mary Millben

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Aug 05, 2014, 10:30 ET

NEW YORK, Aug. 5, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Oklahoma has been an incubator for birthing great singers and Helen Hayes Award nominee Mary Millben is now among the names of rising stars from the heartland of America. Following a rousing debut at The City Winery in New York City this past June, Mary Millben returns to New York in concert this fall on Thursday, August 28, 2014 at 7pm. Presented by Joe's Pub at The Public, Mary is happy to make a donation from concert proceeds to benefit Education Africa and The Links Foundation, Incorporated signature arts program "Classics Through the Ages".

In his Los Angeles studio, Mary Millben is captured by iconic photographer Paul Smith (Paul Smith Photography). (PRNewsFoto/Mary Millben)

Millben, born and raised in Oklahoma and a daughter of ministers, grew up singing in church. Thanks to the faith instilled by her determined, single mother, it was a matter of time before this preacher's child would go from the hills of the South to the stages of the world. A University of Oklahoma alum, her life journey then led her to the Nation's capital where she served as a White House intern and later Presidential Appointee to George W. Bush. Washington, D.C. became home and Millben went on to become a featured soloist for President George W. Bush and President Barack Obama while further impressing audiences at such notable venues as the White House, the Kennedy Center, the famed Copacabana, as well as on stages across Asia and Europe.

Following a sold-out concert at the National Museum of Women in the Arts in Washington, D.C. on May 28^th, 2014 in tribute to the late Marvin Hamlisch and a performance alongside television icon and guest speaker Oprah Winfrey at the Lavern Chatman for Congress fundraiser on April 5^th, 2014 in Arlington, VA, Mary is excited to return to NYC in concert.

"Thrilled to debut at Joe's Pub and follow in the footsteps of so many music legends who have called Joe's Pub home," says Millben. "Furthermore, grateful the evening will give great exposure to Education Africa and The Links Foundation, Incorporated, two great organizations impacting children and youth all over the globe."

Recently, Mary was named a Global Ambassador for Education Africa and spokesperson for American Federation for Children.

Dan Fisher, President of Education Africa in the US said, "Education Africa is immeasurably honored to have Mary Millben serve as Global Ambassador; endlessly advocating to provide quality education to the poorest of the poor. Through hands-on programs such as Early Childhood Development, 'Edu-bike' Africa, 'Arts & Culture' and others, Mary has 'put her boots' on the ground to support these programs experiencing first-hand the positive impact on the lives of these children that quality education can provide. We are equally honored that Mary has taken her extraordinary talent to 'pay it forward' and for that we are grateful."

A donation from concert proceeds will be made to the Education Africa and The Links Foundation, Incorporated signature arts program "Classics Through the Ages."

"We are honored that Mary has selected The Links Foundation, Incorporated as a recipient of concert proceeds. The value of a rich and robust arts experience and exposure for a young person is impossible to truly measure," said Glenda Newell-Harris, M.D., national president of The Links Foundation, Incorporated and The Links, Incorporated. "Through our signature arts program, Classics Through the Ages, we are increasing the interest, knowledge and participation of African-American youth in classical arts. With Mary's contribution, we can have an even greater impact on all of the students our mentoring program reaches."

To further add to her versatile credits, prior to the NYC stage, Millben sang at the 43^rd Super Bowl halftime show with Bruce Springsteen, was the featured soloist for the 102nd NAACP National Convention, sang in the 2009 Obama Inaugural Lincoln Memorial Concert, sang in the Barbra Streisand tribute at the 2008 Kennedy Center Honors and was a soloist in the 2008 National Symphony Orchestra Pops concert under the direction of the late Marvin Hamlisch and Dr. Joyce Garrett.

Millben's concert is under the music direction of David Alan Bunn, composer and pianist for "Live the Dream: The Black Male Stars Of The Great White Way Broadway Reunion" concert presented at Carnegie Hall this past June. Millben will feature original music and hits by favorite female artists and composers including Barbra Streisand, Whitney Houston, Aretha Franklin, David Foster, Burt Bacharach, Steve Dorff, Marvin Hamlisch, Shelton Becton, Bruce Aronson, George & Ira Gershwin, Duke Ellington and more.

Doors open at 6pm for dinner. Tickets are $20 in advance, $25 at the door. They are available online at www.joespub.com, by phone 212-967-7555 (10AM-7PM, daily), or in person at The Public Theater Box Office, 425 Lafayette Street, NYC. The box office window opens daily at 2PM.

To learn more about Education Africa and The Links Foundation, Incorporated, visit: http://www.educationafrica.com/ and http://www.linksinc.org/arts.shtml.

Follow Mary on Facebook, Twitter (@MaryMillben), YouTube, SoundCloud, and LinkedIn.

*CONTACT*Yuri Kwon
Joe's Pub at the Public
Press Manager
212.539.8563
[email protected]

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140804/133379

SOURCE Mary Millben