Anna Newhoff
NCR Reporter
Callahan native Emily Mikus turns her lifelong love of music into a career by building a name for herself as a rising musician and vocalist.
Her musical journey began in sixth grade when she picked up the saxophone at Callahan Middle School under the guidance of Band Director Paul Arnold.
“Mr. Arnold as a band director brought me up, and he still supports me,” Mikus said. “He gave me heart, tough love, and direction. He always told me I could do it.”
Mikus attended West Nassau High School for a year before transferring to Douglas Anderson School of the Arts in Jacksonville to further develop her musical talents. Still, she holds fond memories of the sense of community the Warrior band gave her.
“I loved being a part of the marching band and going to the games,” she said. “Just all the small town, like homey vibes that you just love.”
While at Douglas Anderson, she added more instruments to her musical repertoire, including piano, guitar, and her voice. Through the years, she began playing saxophone with dad Tony Mikus and his band Big Engine, making performing feel more natural.
Mikus graduated high school in 2020 and continued her music education at Jacksonville University. In 2021 she released her first single, “Easy to Love You,” inspired by her long-distance relationship with her boyfriend. In 2023 she released her second single, “Dance With You,” which applies to multiple important relationships in her life.
“I could relate it to my love with Jesus. I could relate it to my love with my boyfriend,” Mikus said.
During her senior year of college, she actively began to pursue her career as a vocalist, building her brand, writing and recording songs, and booking gigs throughout the Northeast Florida area.
While studying at JU, Mikus also discovered another calling — faith-based leadership. She founded a chapter of Delight Ministries, a national nonprofit that empowers college women to grow in their faith and build Christ-centered communities through weekly Bible studies, worship nights, and outreach events. Under her leadership, the Jacksonville University chapter of the ministry became a place where young women could support one another and deepen their relationship with God.
After graduating college in 2024 with a Bachelor of Science in Music Business Management, Mikus stepped away from music temporarily due to a vocal node diagnosis. Around the same time, she accepted a role as a regional director for Delight Ministries, overseeing 18 college chapters across the Southeast.
“I feel like the Lord wanted me to take a year off because I found out that I got vocal nodes the day before I left for Nashville for Delight training,” she said.
That 10-month position, which concluded in May, took her across the region, mentoring student leaders and strengthening Delight’s presence on campuses.
With vocal rest and training, Mikus is ready to return to music. Drawing inspiration from artists like Megan Moroney, Linda Ronstadt, and Stevie Nicks, Mikus embraces a sound rooted in country.
“I feel like I kind of started to love country music because I’ve lived in Callahan,” she said. “I don’t want to sound cliché, but it makes me feel at home.”
Today, Mikus performs regularly around Northeast Florida. She will take the stage Saturday at 4 p.m. at Jax Beach Country Fest at the Seawalk Pavilion, 1st Street North, Jacksonville Beach.
Though her musical journey continues to evolve, Mikus remains grounded in her mission: to create meaningful, heartfelt music through both her faith and her art.
“I want to be a light in the country music industry,” she said. “Not being like the status quo.”
reporter@nassaucountyrecord.com