Rallying Around the Complete Circle: A Roll Towards Marching
The United States Marine Band, also known as "The President's Own," has welcomed a new member to its team. Philip Espe, a 34-year-old music enthusiast with a background in a military family, recently joined the band as a librarian and historian.
Espe's role involves preserving the band's rich history through its extensive archives. The library houses over 80,000 titles of sheet music and arrangements, including an original, handwritten piece from John Philip Sousa's "Semper Fidelis" march, penned in 1888 when Sousa was the band's director. Espe considers this piece his favourite item in the collection.
Espe's passion for music is not limited to the archives. He leads workshops for library workers, teaching them how to enhance storytimes with music performance. At these events, he selects songs that integrate cultural and historical elements, making the stories come alive for children.
Prior to joining the Marine Band, Espe was known as the "Storytime Guy" at D.C. Public Library. He was renowned for playing instruments and singing lively, multilingual songs during storytimes.
Espe's musical journey began with studying clarinet performance. He later earned a master's of music in orchestral conducting. Before joining the Marine Band, he directed community and youth orchestras.
Espe's philosophy is that "perfection isn't necessary when you create music and art." This approach, coupled with his passion for music and history, makes him a valuable addition to the United States Marine Band.
As the band celebrates its 225th anniversary this year, Espe's contributions will undoubtedly help in preserving its rich history and passing it on to future generations. The Marine Band performs hundreds of public and official events annually, and with Espe's expertise, these events are set to become even more musically enriching.
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