Mendota native Kimberly Archer’s ‘Fanfare Politeia’ composition chosen for Joe Biden’s inauguration

If you had told my 20-year-old self that someday the Marine Band would play my music, much less for a presidential inauguration, I would never have believed it.

—  Kimberly Archer, a Mendota native

Kimberly K. Archer, a Mendota native, was selected by the President’s Own United States Marine Band to compose a new fanfare to underscore the program for President Joe Biden’s inauguration ceremony Wednesday.

Archer, a professor of composition at Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville, titled her work “Fanfare Politeia.” Translated from Plato’s Latin term for “Republic,” the work celebrates the U.S. traditions of free and fair elections and of a peaceful transfer of power.

“This is an incredible honor,” Archer said in a news release. “If you had told my 20-year-old self that someday the Marine Band would play my music, much less for a presidential inauguration, I would never have believed it.”

The President’s Own Marine Band has performed at presidential inaugurations since 1801, when Thomas Jefferson was sworn into office, the first inauguration at the nation’s capital.

Archer joins the ranks of iconic composers Leonard Bernstein and John Williams, who have penned works for the executive branch. Under the direction of Colonel Jason K. Fettig, the President’s Own Marine’s Band will perform Archer’s composition at the event Wednesday.

Archer’s composition will be distributed by Murphy Music Press, a Cleveland-based music publishing company, which will make the composition available to purchase after the inauguration. Murphy Music Press has worked closely with Archer in the representation of her new works for concert band since she joined the catalog in 2016.