Librarian Staff Sergeant Philip Espe of San Diego, Calif., joined “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band in May 2022.

Staff Sgt. Espe began his musical training on piano at age 5, clarinet at age 9 and conducting at age 16. In 2007 he graduated from Coronado School of the Arts in Coronado, Calif., and then attended DePaul University in Chicago, where he graduated in 2011 with a bachelor’s of music in clarinet performance. Staff Sgt. Espe also earned an artist diploma in conducting from San Diego State University (SDSU) in 2013, a master’s of music in orchestral conducting from Northwestern University (NU) in 2015, and a master’s of science in library science from the University of North Texas in 2022. His notable instructors include Wagner Campos and Julie DeRoche of DePaul University, Matthew Rowe of SDSU, and Victor Yampolsky of NU.

Prior to joining “The President’s Own,” Staff Sgt. Espe was a library associate for youth and family services for the DC Public Library and music director of the NIH Community Orchestra in Maryland. From 2015-2017, he was also conductor of the DC Youth Orchestra Program, where he managed the El Sistema music education program for the children’s orchestra; collaborated with the Kennedy Center’s Turnaround Arts program and artists Esperanza Spaulding, Joshua Bell and Yo-Yo Ma; and led a tour to Chile. From 2013-2015, he was a conducting teaching artist for The People’s Music School in Chicago.

As a Marine Band Librarian, Staff Sgt. Espe prepares music for performances by the Marine Band and Marine Chamber Orchestra, serves as the music acquisition specialist, and assists with maintaining the music library and historic archives.