MSG James Old, originally from Elizabeth City, North Carolina, enlisted in the U.S. Army in 2012 as a trumpeter and bugler. MSG Old was assigned to the 98th Army Band at Ft. Rucker, Alabama, the U.S. Army Materiel Command (AMC) Band at Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, and the 82nd Airborne Division Band & Chorus at Ft. Bragg, North Carolina, before joining The U.S. Army Field Band. While at Redstone Arsenal, MSG Old traveled regularly with the AMC Band, providing musical support for subordinate commands in Pennsylvania, Michigan, Illinois, Texas, and Colorado. While serving at Redstone Arsenal, MSG Old began building his experience as an orchestral musician, performing as principal and section substitute with the Huntsville Symphony Orchestra, the Chattanooga Symphony Orchestra, and the Shoals Symphony Orchestra. In 2014, MSG Old was named NCO of the Year for the U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence at Ft. Rucker and represented USAACE at the 2014 Training and Doctrine Command Best Warrior Competition. MSG Old holds Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees from East Carolina University, where he was a student of Dr. Britton Theurer.