A Princeton native was a part of the inauguration ceremony for President Joe Biden and Vice-President Kamala Harris last week.
Master Sergeant Hilary Harding is a French horn player with “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band. She tells the News Edge she began her musical training at age 11 and graduated from Caldwell County High School in 1996. She then left Princeton and earned several music degrees.
click to download audioAfter auditioning for the band she was offered the job in 2003 and then joined the U.S. Marine Corp.
click to download audioHarding says “The President’s Own” band is the oldest continuously active professional musical organization, which was founded by an act of Congress in 1798.
click to download audioAccording to Harding, last week was the fifth inauguration she has been a part of with her first being the second term of former President George W. Bush. She says it’s always special and meaningful to be a part of our country’s history.
click to download audioHarding’s husband, Matthew is also a member of the band and was the trumpet player who opened up for Country Music legend Garth Brooks at the inauguration last week.
She and her husband have two children, 7-year old Joseph and 4-year old Hannah, and live outside of Washington D.C. in the suburbs of Mr. Vernon. When asked how her children feel about mom and dad being a part of “The President’s Own”, she says to them it’s just normal.
click to download audioIn addition to performing with the Marine Band, she performs with the Marine Chamber Orchestra at the White House and across the country. She was featured as a tour soloist in 2008 and performed the world premiere of James Stephenson’s transcription of his Sounds Awakened in 2013.
Harding is the daughter of Bob and Debbie Hart of Princeton and was born at Caldwell County hospital in 1978.
