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Hymns were sung and trumpets sounded at St. Kateri Tekakwitha parish in Schenectady for Christmas Eve Mass -- this time, with some musical help from a special visitor.

Anthony Bellino, 25, hails from St. Kateri's and is a trumpeter in "The President's Own," the United States Marine Band. He performed alongside his father, Peter, at the Christmas Eve Mass.

Anthony Bellino started practicing the trumpet at the age of four, watching and learning from his father, who is also a trumpeter and musician.

"He grew up always listening to music," said Peter Bellino. "It came very naturally to him."

Anthony Bellino graduated from Interlochen Arts Academy in 2010. He went on to earn his bachelor of music degree in trumpet performance from Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill., in 2014, and a master's degree in trumpet performance from Rice University in Houston in 2016. He joined "The President's Own" in May 2016.

Coming back to his hometown and getting the chance to play at church with his father, he said, is always something he enjoys.

"It's nice to perform with my dad," he told The Evangelist. "I don't get to do that too often."

The Bellinos played "O Come All Ye Faithful" and "Hark the Herald Angels Sing," among other Christmas hymns, on the trumpet.[[In-content Ad]]

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