It was the kick-off for the America 250 Celebration on June 24. The ten-day “Great American State Fair Event” on the National Mall, leading up to Independence Day 2026. Thousands were gathered near the stage on that day. But few were prepared for what unfolded during Christopher Macchio and Master Gunnery Sgt. Kevin Bennear’s moving performance of “Hallelujah.”
As the performance reached its emotional and challenging peak, a dramatic military flyover soared above Washington, creating a breathtaking tribute that had the crowd looking skyward in a moment of stunned silence before erupting into heartfelt applause.
Interestingly, this pivotal and career highlight for WVU Potomac State alumus Kevin Bennear was not without political controversy. While the “President’s Own” was designed to be a non-partisan entertainment branch of the Marine Corps, last June, the Leonard Cohen Estate released a statement saying the performance was “not authorized, and the Estate does not support or approve of this or any similar usage.”
While the estate of the late composer took issue with the song’s use, Bennear and Macchio performed it anyway, at the request of the White House.
Fresh from that performance and straight from the headlines that followed, Bennear will be make a rare appearance “close to home” and “close to Homecoming” on September 27 as part of the Highland Arts Unlimited concert series season, when he performs in concert inside the Church McKee Arts Center at WVU Potomac State College.
“I am the male vocal soloist with the President’s Own, and I am originally from Elk Garden, West Virginia,” Bennear said. “I received my undergraduate degree from West Virginia University and my masters in vocal performance from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville.”
Bennear said he is looking forward to going back to his “old stomping grounds and my roots” at Potomac State College.
“The vocals we have picked for this tour, I think people will really enjoy. There’s a lot of nostalgia, and it’s a lot of fun to sing. We will be singing some songs from the Great American Songbook as well as some patriotic staples,” he said. “I am actually very excited to be out on the road again with the President’s Own. I love being out there and being so close to the audiences. We have played in concert halls and even in gyms. I love seeing people’s reactions, especially when we play things like the Armed Forces Medley. The audiences mean so much. And I actually can not wait.”
Bennear is a 1992 graduate of Potomac State College. In 2017, he was the keynote speaker at commencement exercises. He was also recognized by Potomac State with the presentation of the “Young Alumni Award” during Homecoming events in 2007.
Bennear’s musical inspiration was his father, who, while serving in an artillery unit in the United States Army, volunteered his spare time and musical talents to entertain the troops. As a young man, Bennear first sang at his local Baptist church. The scholarship he later received to attend Potomac State College enabled him to study music. From PSC, he attended West Virginia University, where he attended under a full voice scholarship. After graduation, he then performed with several theaters, including the Christian-based Sight and Sound Theatre in Pennsylvania as well as Theatre West Virginia. He was then offered an assistantship at the University of Tennessee, where he performed with the Knoxville Opera Company. After receiving his master’s degree, he assumed the position of Baritone vocal Soloist with the “President’s Own” United States Marine Band.
In this capacity, Bennear has performed for four U.S Presidents at both public and intimate events. He is a regular performer at White House State dinners and performs for dignitaries and heads of state from all around the world. He has performed the National Anthem for a worldwide audience while singing on the balcony of the White House with the President on several occasions. He has performed for the State Funerals of Ronald Reagan, Gerald Ford, George H.W. Bush, and Jimmy Carter. He has appeared as a soloist along with Toby Keith and Larry Gatlin on a PBS national production of “In Performance at the White House.” He has sung at two Super Bowls, several nationally televised NASCAR events, and Major League Baseball Games. He also sang for the opening of Audi Field for the inaugural game of DC United.
Bennear also had the honor of performing the National Anthem on September 11th, 2002.
“It was one year after the attack on America as President George W. Bush unfurled the flag over the restored Pentagon,” he said. “It was my most memorable moment in performing.”
Bennear has won several awards, including Concerto Competition Winner while at the University of Tennessee and the Full Voice Award, bestowed by the Peabody Conservatory of Music. He is also the Young Alumni Award winner by his alma mater West Virginia University.
More recently, in July, the Master Gunnery Sgt. sang the National Anthem in honor of the unveiling of the National Military Monument. Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Marine Corps Gen. Christopher J. Mahoney spoke as the guest of honor. The temporary installation, which is located on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, honors the names of the 41 million men and women who have served in the armed forces.
Bennear will be joined in his PSC performance by his wife, musician Kat Bennear, and by Russell Wilson.
Kat Bennear has been a professional violinist, singer, and stage performer for more than 20 years in a wide variety of musical arenas. She started learning violin at the age of 12 and later studied classical violin under famed violinist Mischa Lefkowitz. Her first professional work was as a violinist in the California-based Tehachapi Symphony Orchestra at the age of 16. Through high school, she performed simultaneously as a member of both Bakersfield Symphony Orchestra and Antelope College Symphony Orchestra. During her college career, she performed classical violin as a member of Washington State University Orchestra and later with West Chester University Orchestra in Pennsylvania. After college, she turned to power-rock style music and joined the Trans-Siberian Orchestra-inspired group Wizards of Winter as lead violinist. She transitioned her style in 2012 to Irish fiddle and joined the Trad-Celtic group Burning, Bridget. On top of her musical endeavors, Kat is a full-time elementary school music teacher.
A native of College Park, Maryland, Russell Wilson began piano lessons at age seven and by age 12 began playing hymns for his church each Sunday. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in classical piano performance and a Master’s degree in jazz, both from the University of Maryland in College Park. In 2002, while a junior in college, he joined the President's Own US Marine Band, where he plays all kinds of music styles on the piano, harpsichord, keyboard, and accordion, in public concerts and private events at the White House and all around Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia. He has performed with the Marine Band piano concertos by Mozart, Prokofiev, and Grieg. He is the winner of the 2013 and 2025 World Championship Old Time Piano Playing Contest. Wilson is also a freelance musician, playing all kinds of gigs, including swing bands, wedding bands, polka bands, orchestras, and his church worship team.
Vocalist Kevin Bennear of the President’s Own Marine Band will perform at the Church McKee Arts Center at WVU Potomac State College at 3 p.m. Sunday, September 27. Tickets go on sale Monday, August 31, and can be obtained here.
WVU Potomac State College Homecoming is October 1- 4. The complete Homecoming 2026 Schedule of events is available by visiting https://give.wvu.edu/PSCHomecoming2026. For more information about the Potomac State College Alumni Association, email PSC-Alumni@mail.wvu.edu. To become a PSC Alumni Association Board Member, the application can be found here.
Photos courtesy U.S. Marine Corps/photographer Staff Sgt. Caitlin Pool and Staff Sgt. Joe Clair.