Familiarize yourself with the artists scheduled to perform on January 20, for the official swearing in of Barack Obama as President of the United States of America.
The United States Marine Band
Also referred to as “The President’s Band,” these musicians will be performing at the beginning of the ceremony.
The San Francisco Boys Chorus
Having already performed for past U.S. Presidents and nobility from Russia and England, this 200 member chorus consists of boys aged 5 to 15 who all hail from surrounding near the San Francisco Bay Area. Check the video above to see them performing at an Oakland A’s game.
The San Francisco Girls Chorus
Featuring 300 vocally talented girls from ages 7 to 12, this chorus team is the first youth group ever to receive the prestigious Margaret Hillis Award. Here is a clip of them rehearsing for a Christmas presentation.
Aretha Franklin
“The Queen of Soul” has was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987, has a slew of Grammy’s under her belt and is not only one the best vocalists ever, but can also play a mean piano.
Ensemble Performance by Yo Yo Ma, Gabriella Montero, Anthony McGill, and Itzhak Perlman led by John Williams.
Yo Yo Ma
Yo Yo Ma is a French-born American cellist who has more Grammy Awards under his belt than Weezy has syrup songs. He’s played at 2002 Winter Olympic Games, makes frequent appearances at Apple Computer events and has been on The Simpsons where he comically promoted the art of playing the cello. Internationally recognized as one of the most prolific cellists of the modern era, Ma was also named Peace Ambassador by the United Nations in 2006.
Itzhak Perlman
Perlman is an Israeli-American violinist with multiple Grammys and awards, including The Medal of Liberty and National Medal of the Arts, which were bestowed on him by former Presidents Reagan and Clinton, respectively. In addition to being a world renowned violinist, he’s also gotten critical acclaim for his musical work on Steven Spielberg’s film, Schinlder’s List.
Anthony McGill
The principal clarinetist of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra in Cincinnati, Ohio Anthony McGill became a clarinet virtuoso at just 21 years of age. Known for his unconventional playing style, McGill has likened his state of mind when playing clarinet to that of an athlete in the “zone.”
Gabriella Montero
Born in Caracas, Venezuela, Montero started playing piano when she was two, and gave her first public performance by age five. A classically trained pianist, she is known for ability to improvise on many works, most notably those of Sebastian Bach, which can be heard on her 2006 album Bach & Beyond.
John Williams
As band leader, Williams will be leading the ensemble of the aforementioned artists in an original work to commemorate the inauguration of Barack Obama into office. Williams is most notably known for scoring some of the most revered films of all time, including Star Wars, Jurassic Park, Indiana Jones, and Harry Potter.
