Marines the Few, the Proud—and the Musical!

Moon Area High School graduate Hannah Davis is now serving her country as a soloist and concert moderator staff sergeant with “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band!

As a member of this band, Staff Sgt. Davis is part of a tradition that began in 1798. She often performs in front of dignitaries at official functions, including U.S. Presidential inaugurations, state funerals and arrival ceremonies for foreign ambassadors and military personnel.

Although Davis has been singing in public since the age of 8, she was not thinking of a military career.

“I got my start singing in church!” explains Davis. She was quite passionate about gospel music, but as she matured, she also found a love for jazz, classical and choral music. “I was 17 years old when I realized I wanted to make it a career.”

After high school, she began her undergrad studies at West Virginia University in Music Education with the end goal of becoming a choir or band teacher. But in her sophomore year, she realized she had a passion for performing, so she switched her major to Vocal Performance.

She began postgraduate studies at the Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University to obtain a master’s degree. One fateful day while sitting in the Student Affairs office, she received an announcement that the Marine Band was holding an audition for a soprano vocalist and moderator. This was big news since the position had not been open in 20 years!

Davis already had a special connection to the Marines, because her father had joined the Marine Corps straight out of high school and served our country for four years.

“I wasn’t aware of the military being an option for a successful music career,” says Davis, so the announcement opened a whole new world for her. “When I saw the open position, I knew I had to go for it.”

She sent in a résumé, cover letter and two references to start her journey. A few weeks later, she received an audition slot!

The audition process was thorough and took place over two days. She qualified for the second day of auditions after making it past the screening of the first day. At the end of the second day, Davis had earned the position! She then joined the military.

Although a singing career in the military is quite a bit different than field work, all U.S. Marines must complete boot camp, which is widely regarded as the toughest program in the military. But Davis was able to fulfill all the rigorous requirements for becoming a Marine in 2023.

In her position as a performer with “The President’s Own,” she has met two presidents, President Donald Trump and former President Joe Biden, in addition to former Vice President Kamala Harris, Maryland Governor Wes Moore, General Eric Smith, who is commandant of the Marine Corps, and many, many others.

Some of the high-level performances she has participated in are White House engagements, such as the farewell to President and First Lady Biden, NATO ceremonies, the Presidential Inauguration, and military celebrations.

Performing for dignitaries is a thrill, but Davis was especially honored to perform for everyday Americans on the band’s 2024 national tour.

“I met so many wonderful veterans and patrons who expressed how much the Marine Band means to them. As we traveled to many of the smaller towns, some people explained that they had been waiting and preparing for the entire year to come and see us perform! It was amazing.”

One of the hardest parts of her job is that of concert moderator. It requires extensive research and understanding of every piece that the band performs on the program.

“I spend a lot of time listening to pieces and looking up composers and their relationship to the Marine Band (if one exists). I also delve deeply into what was going on in their lives in the period the music was written. I write out each program as if it were a script and memorize them all.”

One staple of “The President’s Own” Marine Band is our national anthem. Davis performs it at a frequency ranging from every other month to several times a week! She has performed it at the Pentagon, the White House, the 2024 WNBA All-Star Game, the WWII Memorial and Vietnam Memorial, and many other venues.

She credits her hometown of Pittsburgh for giving her a great musical background. “Pittsburgh has a great music scene, and it’s loaded with incredible musicians. At the same time, it isn’t a city that is oversaturated or overwhelming like New York City or LA.

“Being able to experience great music without loads of pressure to ‘make it’ made music a passion that I can enjoy rather than an overwhelming mission that made me unhappy.”

“The President’s Own” is known for its world-class musicians and the discipline, dedication and musicianship they bring to everything they do. But Davis has had the opportunity to get to know them as people as well.

“I have had the privilege of seeing them behind the scenes and working alongside them, up close and personal. I must say that they are even better people.

“From Command to the newly enlisted, they genuinely want everyone to succeed. There is no shortage of support and cheering for one another. The atmosphere is extremely positive with a singular focus on a common goal, to be the best that we can be in all areas of our lives.”

You can see Staff Sgt. Hannah Davis at work as she performs “Rock of Ages” as arranged by Master Gunnery Sgt. Alan Prather at the following URL: www.youtube.com/watch?v=5X0IyILUOns

For more information on “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band, visit marineband.marines.mil.