Staff Sergeant Emily Perkins joined the Jazz Ambassadors in 2023. Originally from the Midwest, she grew up playing multiple instruments, but her formal piano studies led to professional accompanying by high school. She went on to earn her degree from Andrews University in piano performance and choral education. After college, she turned her focus to voice and performed in the jazz and commercial music scenes of Southwest Michigan, Chicago, El Paso, and New York as a solo, ensemble, and studio singer. SSG Perkins enlisted in the Army in 2015 where she has served as a pianist, vocalist, clarinetist, and percussionist. Prior to joining The U.S. Army Field Band, she was a member of the 1st Armored Division Band, the 42nd Infantry Division Band, and the 144th Army Band. Her career, both in and out of uniform, has taken her around the world with performances across the United States, Mexico, Iraq, Kuwait, Switzerland, the Maldives, and Finland.