A group of Rice University graduates performed in the 60th inauguration of the President of the United States Jan. 20 as members of “The President’s Own” U.S. Marine Band.
The Marine Band provided music for the swearing-in ceremony at the Capitol and performed “Hail to the Chief” to honor newly sworn-in President Donald Trump immediately after he took the oath of office.
The nine following alumni took part in the inaugural ceremonies:
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Staff Sgt. Michael Miller
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Staff Sgt. Shawn Zheng
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Staff Sgt. Benjamin St. Pierre
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Staff Sgt. Daniel Taubenheim
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Staff Sgt. James McAloon
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Gunnery Sgt. Anthony Bellino
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Gunnery Sgt. Zachary Gauvain
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Gunnery Sgt. James McClarty
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Master Gunnery Sgt. Christopher Rose
“It’s always an honor to support historic events such as the inauguration,” said Zheng, who earned a bachelor’s degree in horn performance from Rice’s Shepherd School of Music in 2022. This year’s inauguration was his first after joining “The President’s Own” Band in 2023.
“Every time I support a high-impact event, I’m always in awe of the fact that I’m able to be there and be a witness to history,” Zheng said
In a given week, Zheng may find himself performing at events ranging from a full honors funeral at Arlington National Cemetery or a ceremony at the Pentagon to playing in a full-size band on the White House lawn or in an orchestra in the White House’s Grand Foyer.
He said he largely credits the opportunity to participate in such prestigious settings to his development as a musician at the Shepherd School.
“Rice was the perfect university to prepare me for a professional career in music,” Zheng said. “I wanted to go to Rice ever since I was 14 or 15 because I knew that the Shepherd School had the best orchestral program in the country. I also appreciated the fact that Rice has a high-level conservatory-type music school within the larger university.”
Rose joined “The President’s Own” Band as a percussionist in 1997 after earning both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in music from Rice.
The performance was Rose’s last at a presidential inauguration due to the band’s 30-year limit — this is his 27th year in the band. He said being a part of historical moments like the inauguration of the first Black president in Barack Obama in 2009 to the 2021 inauguration that was modified due to COVID-19 “never gets lost on you.”
“One of the coolest parts of the job is just being on the front row to history,” Rose said. “And with every president, it’s been different based on their priorities and their musical tastes. I’ve been blessed to be a part of all of them.”
Also a graduate of the Shepherd School, he said the experience he gained at Rice was invaluable to his musical career.
“That was a really great experience,” Rose said. “I’ve tried to tell a lot of young kids that if you can get into a school where you can have that kind of attention early on, it’s going to benefit you in the long run because you’re going to get the opportunities, and you’re going to get the reps and the concerts to play in rather than just sitting on the sidelines watching. I loved that about Rice.”
Founded in 1798 by an act of Congress, the Marine Band is America’s oldest continuously active professional musical organization, performing at every inauguration since 1801. To learn more, visit www.marineband.marines.mil/.