Tribute No. 3. That’s the first named role Emme Langefeld remembers performing. The play was a “Hunger Games” parody. She was in sixth grade.

“I grew up in Lake Zurich, Illinois, and was active in both music and theater as a kid,” Langefeld says. “I was also really interested in science and that’s what led me to major in pharmacy.”

She began taking private vocal lessons at age 12. Her participation in theater waned by high school but she still sang in choir, mostly technically challenging choral arrangements. Once Langefeld committed to attend Purdue, she received a call from a student in Purdue Musical Organizations, encouraging her to audition.

“It was cool that they reached out to me directly after I identified my interest in music on my application,” Langefeld says. “That definitely motivated me to audition. I was curious to see if I would make it or not.”

For her video audition, Langefeld sang “Come to Your Senses” from the musical “Tick, Tick … Boom” by Jonathan Larson as well as a classical piece. Her performance was strong enough to land her a coveted spot in the Purduettes, the 60-woman ensemble that performs across a variety of genres from pop to classical, gospel, country, swing and jazz.

“My favorite thing about being in the Purduettes is watching how the audience is affected by our performance,” Langefeld says. “People feel so connected to the music and it feels special singing for them. I especially enjoy when we perform in smaller venues, such as a nursing home. We perform to make people happy, and you can tell by their faces how much they enjoy listening.

“I’ve loved my time in PMO. It’s wonderful to contribute to something greater than myself. That gives me a purpose to perform.”

With two Purdue Christmas Shows under her belt in addition to commencements, Langefeld has performed several times at Elliott Hall of Music, one of the largest proscenium theaters in the country. Connecting with alumni who were also members of PMO reminds her of the legacy they share.

“Knowing there might be PMO alumni in the audience always motivates me to do my best performance,” she says. “Music has the power to connect and it’s an honor to be part of a tradition that is so sacred to alumni.”

Balancing the Purduette practice schedule with her coursework is sometimes a challenge, but Langefeld does her best to divide her work up into manageable chunks and complete work early so she’s not rushed to meet deadlines.

“I follow a pretty strict schedule with my homework and assignments,” she says. “That helps me feel in control and stay on top of everything.”

Now entering her second year in the professional program, Langefeld is exploring the different areas of practice within pharmacy. She’s interested in infectious disease, women’s health or psychiatry — but at this point, it’s too early to limit herself.

“I’m trying to keep my mind open to everything because I still have a lot more schooling ahead of me,” she says. “The field is always changing, and you never know what the future is going to hold.”