Sergeant First Class Jennifer Kempe is originally from Champaign, Illinois. She received her Bachelor of Music Education Degree from the University of Illinois, and her Master of Music degree from Western Michigan University. Prior to joining the U.S. Army Field Band, SFC Kempe performed as Principal Horn of the Battle Creek Symphony and 2nd Horn of the Dubuque Symphony Orchestra. She has also performed with numerous ensembles throughout the Midwest, including the Quad City Symphony Orchestra, Tallgrass Brass Band, Lansing Symphony Orchestra, Champaign-Urbana Symphony Orchestra, and The Kalamazoo Civic Theatre Pit Orchestra. SFC Kempe has attended music festivals such as the Round Top Festival Institute, Rafael Méndez Brass Institute, and Le Domaine Forget International Academy of Music and Dance. SFC Kempe has taught students of all ages, maintaining a private horn studio and teaching brass lessons in local schools in the Quad City area. Her primary teachers include Bernhard Scully and Lin Foulk.