Staff Sergeant Ben Poirot joined The United States Army Field Band in 2026. Prior to his enlistment, he played principal tuba with the Rockford Symphony Orchestra and was a member of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago. While based in Chicago, Staff Sgt. Poirot freelanced with ensembles, such as the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Lyric Opera Orchestra, Grant Park Music Festival Orchestra, Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, and Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. He has also performed with the New York Youth Symphony, appearing on their Grammy Award–winning album Works by Florence Price, Jessie Montgomery, and Valerie Coleman. Outside of performance, Staff Sgt. Poirot has engaged in community outreach through the Civic Orchestra of Chicago Chamber Music Series and the Civic Mentorship Program, bringing chamber music and music education to diverse audiences around the city of Chicago.
Staff Sgt. Poirot holds a Master of Music from Northwestern University and a Bachelor of Music from Western Connecticut State University.
The Concert Band, the oldest and largest of The U.S. Army Field Band’s five ensembles, has performed for over 100 million people worldwide since its founding in 1946. This elite 65-member group has toured across all 50 states and 25 countries, performing in venues ranging from the Berlin Philharmonie and Carnegie Hall to state fairs and high school gyms. Often joined by the Soldiers’ Chorus, the band presents marches, overtures, popular and patriotic music, and solos. They’ve collaborated with renowned orchestras like the Boston Pops and Detroit Symphony and participated in presidential inaugurations and diplomatic events, embodying American pride and professionalism in every performance.