Conductor, Nsé (EN-say) Ekpo enjoys a varied career as a performer, educator, and creative artist. Currently, Ekpo is on the music faculty at the South Carolina Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities where he conducts the Wind Ensemble and the Sinfonia Orchestra. Previously, Ekpo was the Music Director and Conductor of the Issaquah Philharmonic Orchestra and Concert Band Director at Lakeside School both located in the Seattle area. While in Seattle Ekpo also served as a guest conductor for rehearsals and performances with the Puget Brass, West Seattle Community Orchestra, Evergreen Community Orchestra, the Orchestra of Flight, Seattle Wind Symphony, Tacoma Community College Orchestra, Seattle Pacific University Symphony Orchestra, the Lake Union Civic Orchestra, and the Lake Washington Symphony Orchestra. In 2018, Ekpo was named a finalist in two categories of the American Prize– Professional Orchestral Conducting, and the Ernst Bacon Award for the Programing of American Music (Professional Division) based on his work with the Pazardjik Symphony of Bulgaria. Masterclass conducting teachers include Jorma Panula (Sibelius Academy of Helsinki), Colin Metters and Sian Edwards (London Royal Academy of Music), and Toby Purser (London Royal College of Music).