Maj. Ryan Nowlin ’00, ’04 has two songs performed on Inauguration Day
BGSU alumnus has participated in three inaugurations since joining U.S. Marine Band in 2010
By Bob Cunningham ’18
Lady Gaga, Jennifer Lopez and Garth Brooks were among the celebrity entertainers charged with kicking off Inauguration Day 2021 on Jan. 20 at the U.S. Capitol, celebrating the commencement of the four-year term of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.
“The President’s Own” U.S. Marine Band, having performed at inaugurations for every president since Thomas Jefferson, provided the tradition.
Assistant Director Maj. Ryan J. Nowlin ’00, ’04 served as the backup conductor and wrote two songs for the inauguration. “Godspeed” was performed during the Inaugural Prelude and “Let Freedom Ring” was played as part of the Inaugural Ceremony. He also planned all of the band’s functions for the inauguration.
No pressure, right? : SIUE s Archer composes music for Inauguration Day
Professor’s ‘Fanfare Politea’ is part of program for Wednesday’s ceremony
Scott Marion, smarion@edwpub.net
FacebookTwitterEmail
EDWARDSVILLE For Dr. Kimberly K. Archer, it is the honor of a lifetime, musically or otherwise.
Archer, Professor of Music Composition at SIUE, has been selected by “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band to compose a fanfare to underscore Joe Biden’s inauguration ceremony on Wednesday in Washington, D.C.
“It happened in a whirlwind because they called me on Jan. 2 to commission me for this, but I only had seven days to do it,” Archer said. “Major Ryan Nowlin, who is the assistant conductor of the Marine Band, was a graduate student when I was a first-year professor and we’ve known each other for 16 or 17 years. He has been championing my music ever since.