The city’s predominantly LGBT marching band recently came under the direction of a new conductor, who is looking to lead the group through its ongoing renaissance.
The Freedom Band brought on Henco Espag as its artistic director this past winter. Espag’s position enables the South African native to oversee the group’s overarching artistic direction.
Espag came to the United States in 2007 and earned his bachelor’s degree from Berklee School of Music in 2008, setting up a career path he said was natural for him: His mother holds degrees in organ and piano and Espag’s father is a singer.
After graduation, Espag lived in New York City for a time before moving to New Jersey and getting a teaching position at Westminster College of Arts at Rider University, where he provides vocal coaching for theater students and accompanies the group on the piano.
In the past few years, he’s also done orchestration for a film and is currently working as the composer for a new Broadway musical that’s in the early stages.
“I’ve done a lot of random gigs as an accompanist. I’ve worked with some of the professors at Westminster on recitals and done some music directing during the summer at a private school,” Espag said.
His partner is a euphonium player in the Freedom Band and told him about the opening earlier this year.
Despite his already-busy schedule, he said he jumped at the chance to put his conducting skills to use.
“At this point, I’m pretty much used to doing random things all over the area,” he said. “I basically live in my car — I’m always driving somewhere. Conducting is really one of my passions so I’d honestly do anything to make time for this.”
Freedom Band was nearly dormant for 10 years, but in the past three years has come under new leadership and, in just the past two years, membership has grown 10-fold.
Members now hail from throughout the region, including New Jersey and suburban locales, and participate in Freedom Band’s three separate groups — marching band, concert band and jazz ensemble.
“They’ve really been doing great, and I’m very excited and hoping to be part of that growing process,” Espag said.
Espag said the organization, a member of the Lesbian and Gay Band Association, is working to become the host for the national group’s annual conference in the near future, and is also hoping to develop partnerships within the city.
“Locally we want to really be more integrated within the arts scene. We’d love to get more involved in film schools or composition programs with universities and schools, doing workshops and things like that,” Espag said. “We’re just looking to continue growing like we have been.”
Freedom Band will next perform at the City of Brotherly Love Softball League season opener at 1 p.m. April 17 in Fairmount Park.
Jen Colletta can be reached at [email protected].