Cedar Falls Native to Perform at Inauguration in Marine Band

Trumpeter/cornetist Master Sergeant Susan Rider, a Cedar Falls native, will perform with the "The President's Own" Marine Band at President Barack Obama's second inauguration Monday.

The Marine Band performs at the swearing-in ceremony, marches in the parade and performs at the Inaugural Ball. "The President's Own" will provide accompaniment for Kelly Clarkson and Beyonce during the swearing-in ceremony.

Rider joined “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band in July 1997.

According to her Marine Band biography, Rider began her musical instruction at age 10. After graduating in 1985 from Northern University High School in Cedar Falls, she earned a bachelor’s degree in music in 1989 from the University of Northern Iowa.

She continued her studies at Indiana University in Bloomington, where in 1991 she earned a master’s degree in music and in 2000 earned a doctorate of music in brass pedagogy. Her trumpet instructors were Keith Johnson and Randy Grabowski of the University of Northern Iowa, and Charles Gorham and Edmund Cord of Indiana University.