While in his first position as professor of trumpet at the University of Missouri at Kansas City, Emery was appointed to the assistant principal trumpet position with the Kansas City Philharmonic. The next year he won the co-principal trumpet position with the Columbus Symphony Orchestra, serving as principal trumpet from 1982 until 1988. Emery was then invited to become a member of the Boston Symphony Orchestra trumpet section.

As a freelance player, Emery has been involved in recording projects with Touchstone Pictures and WGBH Television, as well as the Empire Brass, Old South Brass, and Proteus 7. He has played the American and international premiere performances of works for trumpet by Andre Jolivet, Nebojsa Zivcovic, and Kensaku Shimizu.

Since leaving the BSO Emery has been invited to perform with the Vienna Philharmonic and as principal trumpet with the New York Philharmonic. He has also had the opportunity to sub as principal trumpet with the St. Louis Symphony. Emery has, over his years in Boston, become one of the most sought-after teachers of trumpet in the area.

Former member of Boston Symphony and Boston Pops Orchestras. Formerly principal trumpet, Columbus Symphony Orchestra, Columbus Symphony Brass Quintet, Lyric Opera of Kansas City; assistant principal trumpet, Kansas City Philharmonic. Former faculty, University of Missouri at Kansas City, Missouri Western State College, Eastern Nazarene College.