Sergeant Major MaryKay Messenger is a native of Newburgh, New York, and a well-known soloist throughout the Hudson Valley region, performing classical, Broadway, jazz, and popular music. She is the premier vocalist for the West Point Band and first sang with them at their season finale 1812 concert in 1980, at the age of 12. She continued throughout the years as a guest vocalist for a variety of concerts until she joined the Army in 1996. Sgt. Maj. Messenger performed as a soloist for a European Summer Broadway Tour and has appeared locally in several musicals including Godspell, Shenandoah, and Grease. She has sung operatic roles in Montclair, New Jersey; with the Amato Opera Theatre in New York City; and at the Bardavon Opera House in Poughkeepsie, New York. She has performed with the famous Irish Tenors, Frank Patterson, John McDermott, the Nexus percussion ensemble, and soprano Sylvia McNair.
Sgt. Maj. Messenger performed as a featured soloist for the West Point Band’s Bicentennial Concert in Carnegie Hall, the Royal Norwegian Military Band in Oslo, Norway, and as the first American military vocalist to perform with the military band of the People’s Liberation Army in Beijing, China. She recently performed as a soloist for the Boston Pops 2013 Holiday Concert at Eisenhower Hall Theatre. She has sung the National Anthem for many high-profile events, such as the 2012 Bruce Springsteen concert “Stand Up for Heroes” at the Beacon Theatre in New York City, at Madison Square Garden for the New York Knicks, at the opening bell of the New York Stock Exchange, and at Radio City Music Hall for World Championship Boxing. She has also sung regularly at Yankee Stadium, including a live, televised performance of "God Bless America" for Game 1 of the 2009 World Series. Sgt. Maj. Messenger also sings for numerous New York Jets and Giants football games. She is often highlighted in Army football halftime shows, and she performs for many official functions at West Point and in New York City for distinguished guests, politicians, and international dignitaries. Sgt. Maj. Messenger has studied voice with Walter Blazer, Mya Vernole, and Phyllis Curtin.
