Shaping Our Sound, Supporting The Stage
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Music Educator, Trombonist, Conductor
Derek Hebert has served as the Artistic Director of the Mile High Freedom Bands since 2014, guiding the organization through an era of unprecedented growth, artistic innovation, and community impact. Under his leadership, MHFB has quadrupled its membership, nearly tripled its annual performance lineup, and has grown its audiences by over 300%. A champion of diversity and inclusion, Derek has led the commissioning of 15 original works by historically marginalized composers. Through bold programming and meaningful collaborations, he continues to shape MHFB as a joyful, empowering space where musicians of all backgrounds connect through the transformative power of music.
Beyond MHFB, Derek is Director of Bands and Performing Arts Lead at The Academy in Westminster, Colorado. There, he has expanded the program’s musical offerings and instructional staff, with the program growing consistently year after year and reaching more students than ever. He has also deepened the program’s connections within the school and the community, greatly expanding performances and collaborative opportunities. His bands consistently earn Superior and Excellent ratings, with recent recognition among Colorado’s top ten high school bands, and his students regularly achieve placement in Colorado All-State ensembles.
An active advocate for equity and inclusion in the arts, Derek has presented at state music educator conferences and is passionate about fostering safe, welcoming spaces in music classrooms and ensembles. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education with honors from the University of Colorado Boulder and a Master’s in Conducting from Colorado State University. Originally from Louisiana, he and his husband Brad have called Colorado home since 2006, where they share life with their beloved black cat, Winifred.
A passionate believer in music’s power to inspire, heal, and unite, Derek is honored to serve MHFB in its mission to uplift the community through performance, visibility, and artistic expression.
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Music Educator, Violinist, Conductor
Beyond MHFB, Derek is Director of Bands and Performing Arts Lead at The Academy in Westminster, Colorado. There, he has expanded the program’s musical offerings and instructional staff, with the program growing consistently year after year and reaching more students than ever. He has also deepened the program’s connections within the school and the community, greatly expanding performances and collaborative opportunities. His bands consistently earn Superior and Excellent ratings, with recent recognition among Colorado’s top ten high school bands, and his students regularly achieve placement in Colorado All-State ensembles.
An active advocate for equity and inclusion in the arts, Derek has presented at state music educator conferences and is passionate about fostering safe, welcoming spaces in music classrooms and ensembles. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education with honors from the University of Colorado Boulder and a Master’s in Conducting from Colorado State University. Originally from Louisiana, he and his husband Brad have called Colorado home since 2006, where they share life with their beloved black cat, Winifred.
A passionate believer in music’s power to inspire, heal, and unite, Derek is honored to serve MHFB in its mission to uplift the community through performance, visibility, and artistic expression.
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Middle School Band & Choir Director
I am Sam Celaya and I am thrilled to be part of MHFB Swing! I graduated from Colorado State University with my degree in music education with an emphasis in trombone. Music has, and continues to be a huge passion of mine and is what the majority of my life revolves around. I am currently teaching middle school band and choir and am ecstatic to be a part of the MHFB community. The opportunity to share and create music in such a positive and impactful way is a truly humbling experience. I look forward to connecting with our members and our community by sharing our inspirations, fears, and dreams as we create and connect through music.
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Secondary Instrumental Music Teacher
Kalin Peña is a composer, tubist, and music educator, having performed with MHFB since 2016. Kalin joined the artistic staff as an Assistant Artistic Director, and co-director of MHFB Corps, in 2022. Kalin has also been named a composer-in-residence for MHFB’s 2024-2025 season.
Just as Kalin found joy, inspiration, and community when they joined MHFB, they are excited about the power of the music we make when we join together. That extends out towards our LGBTQIA+ community and the audiences we reach with our message.
MHFB was also a profound inspiration for Kalin when they pursued a degree in music education. Kalin is currently a band and orchestra director at the secondary school level.
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University of Denver
Jeremy Vera has been a musician for as long as he can remember and has been a member of a community band for over 15 years. He joined as soon as he found out a “gay band” existed. Originally a Saxophone player, when he first saw a French Horn, it was love at first “sound”. Aside from playing saxophone and horn, Jeremy loves to dust off his Baritone every December for the yearly tradition of performing with the TubaChristmas ensemble.
Since the day he moved to Denver he has been an active member of MHFB. To Jeremy, MHFB serves not only as a musical outlet, but also as an extended family and a place of belonging. Jeremy says, “I am more than thrilled to be a part of the leadership of this organization to help all members get the most of their experience and bring the most excitement and joy to all of our audience in the community”. Prior to joining MHFB, he was Assistant Director of DC’s Different Drummers Marching Band in Washington, DC. Jeremy enjoys tackling logistics, values inclusivity, has a creative mind, and loves to “make things work”.
Jeremy served in Peace Corps from 2005 to 2008 in rural Guatemala, and is the co-founder of the Orquesta Juvenil de Santa Ana Huista, which is now a nationally recognized orchestra and music school. His original students are now accomplished teachers and administrators of the school, which has celebrated over 20 years in operation and currently includes over 60 students playing wind, string, and percussion instruments. He, along with his students, have performed in various places across Guatemala performing for the President as well as on TV. Some students have even received scholarships and have traveled across Central America performing with different ensembles.
Jeremy holds a B.S. degree in Urban Planning (2005) from Arizona State University and his other artistic love is making miniature scale models of buildings and cities. He lives in Denver with his partner and the occasional Exchange Student. They both enjoy gardening, traveling to obscure places, and the occasional 5k race.
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Sales
Brandon A. Lujan currently serves as the Business Manager of the MIle High Freedom Bands (MHFB) since November 2021. He is a passionate band geek who joined MHFB in April 2005 and was quickly elected to the board of directors just a year later. He has served on the Board in the roles of Secretary, Vice President, and twice as President with his most recent stint from 2016-2021. He is a mission driven leader that has helped this organization grow from less than 10 members when he joined to the thriving nonprofit that it is today with over 250 strong. He loves this organization so much that he tattooed the band’s logo on his arm!
A rare Colorado native that grew up in the Denver area, music has always played an important role in his life. From his early school days all the way to today. Because of that, he is a man of many talents and plays several instruments within the MHFB such as, French Horn, Clarinet, Bass Clarinet, and Tenor & Bari Saxophone. Most recently you can find him performing with the MHFB Winds Bass Clarinet section and MHFBs’ Clarinet Choir.
When Brandon is not busy with the operation side of MHFB, he serves as Secretary of the Pride Bands Alliance Board of Directors. Pride Bands is an international organization of LGBTQ+ community bands that promotes Music, Visibility, and Pride. MHFB is currently a member of Pride Bands Alliance. In 2023, Brandon alongside his partner in crime Derek Hebert, served as Coordinators for the Rocky Mountain Dreams conference for the Pride Bands Alliance. It has been one of his proudest accomplishments in his time with MHFB to host the international organization in his hometown.
In 2015, Brandon met his husband Zephaniah, who is also a member of MHFB in the Horn section and serves as the band’s librarian. They live in Henderson, Colorado with their cat M&M. If you have been to an MHFB event in the last 10 years, then you have most likely enjoyed some of his professional talents. Brandon is a classically trained chef and in 2012 earned his culinary degree from the Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts in Boulder, Colorado. While you will not see him working in the kitchen any longer, you can still enjoy his talents at most MHFB events. We recommend the King Cake!
Engage, Excite, Education, and Entertain
