Senior Chief Musician Jennifer (O’Racki) Lange first picked up a French horn in middle school band, and I’m certain she had no idea it would become the defining sound of her life. But thanks to the mentorship she received in the Byron schools—and a tenacity rooted in both joy and discipline—Jennifer has become one of the highest-ranking enlisted musicians in the United States Navy, part of an elite corps of artists whose job is to represent America at home and abroad.

There are roughly 330,000 people in the U.S. Navy. Only about 380 serve as professional musicians in the nine fleet bands around the world. And among those, only 13 hold the E8 rank that Jennifer does. Of those 13, only two are women.

She is one of them.

But before she ever wore the uniform or took the stage in Kuala Lumpur or Rome, she was a Byron student—one with wide-ranging interests and a lot of doors open.

At Byron High School, Jennifer earned all-state honors in music, academics, sports, and art.  She was offered collegiate scholarships in all of these fields, but she accepted a full-tuition music scholarship to Coe College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

At Coe, Jennifer studied French horn performance and immersed herself in a diverse liberal arts education. She took biology, art, and language classes alongside her music coursework and even sang in the college company. In addition to that, she participated on the volleyball, rugby, and downhill skiing teams.  She was also active in the International Club, forging friendships with visiting students from around the globe. Her broad approach to learning, paired with her musical excellence, positioned her to compete for something few even consider: a spot in a U.S. Navy band.

“I watched a Navy band perform during college and was immediately captivated,” she says. “They played with such precision and pride. I knew right away —I want to be part of that.”

She joined the Navy in August 2001, just weeks before 9/11. In the 23 years since, she has played, led, conducted, and trained across the globe. Her stations have included San Diego, Hawaii, Norfolk, Italy, and Chicago, with each rotation lasting  three  years. She's served as a hornist, vocalist, drum major, a conductor, and now holds the role of Leading Chief Petty Officer (LCPO) for her unit—guiding both junior personnel and fellow chiefs alike.

She’s not just a player anymore. She’s a leader.

“Being in Navy music is about diplomacy,” she says. “We serve the Navy by telling its story through music—by representing the United States Navy  in foreign countries, at community events, at ceremonial functions, and by connecting with people.”

Though she’s based out of Naval Station Great Lakes, her reach is broad. The band covers a nine-state area, often flying and driving to performances rather than deploying by ship. (Though she’s quick to note: some bands, especially those in the Seventh Fleet, deploy on Navy ships across the globe annually.)

While Jennifer now spends much of her time in administration and mentoring roles, she still performs—and her love for the French horn remains as strong as ever. “There’s no pinnacle,” she says. “You never stop practicing. Never stop learning.”

It all began in Byron.

“My music teachers there were the reason I made it,” she says. “They saw my talent early, encouraged  me, gave me extra lessons, introduced me to opportunities for specialized instruction and groups to play with, like the Rockford Area Youth Symphony Orchestra. They didn’t just teach—they made me believe I had something to offer.”

That sense of belief, she says, is critical to sustaining the arts—and the people in them.

“Music is about connection. And so is service. That’s why I love this career.”

She has been married to her husband Timothy for almost 19 years.  He was recently selected for Master Chief (E9) in his own field, Surface Combat Interior Communications, an achievement reached by less than 1 percent of those who join the Navy.  Sharing a unique lifestyle of dual active duty service members, they have built a life grounded in purpose, despite having moved often and adapting continuously.

When asked what she’d tell a Byron student considering an unconventional path, she doesn’t hesitate.

“Say yes. Try things. Don’t be afraid of taking a route nobody else around you is taking. I’ve been all over the world because I followed a sound I loved.”

In her French horn, Jennifer found not just a career—but a calling. And she’s still making music, still leading, still representing the country she serves.