Member Spotlight: Kyle Bryson

Kyle Bryson values his ties to the East Metro Symphony Orchestra.   As a transplant from the East Coast, the orchestra has served as a way for Kyle to connect more with his new home in the East Metro.  “I joined the orchestra in spring 2018.  I was urged to join by a co-worker who plays […]

Member Spotlight: Haley Martin

Haley Martin is grateful for the invitation she got to join the East Metro Symphony Orchestra.  She had the opportunity to perform with the orchestra several years ago as a student at East Ridge High School in Woodbury, participating in EMSO’s Side-By-Side concerts.  So it was a welcome surprise when EMSO trombonist Carl Meincke reminded her […]

Merci!

It was a wonderful kick-off to our 2019-2020 New Beginnings concert season at EMSO’s French Passions concert on October 27th.  The orchestra was in grand form playing classical French pieces from composers like Bizet and Franck.  Merci to our fabulous audience who came out to support the start of our 11th season and see the […]

Phyllis Comstock – Clarinet

Phyllis Comstock joined EMSO in 2016 as 2nd clarinetist, playing on a Buffet R-13 with a Kaspar mouthpiece. Besides orchestral playing, she enjoys wind band and performs with the Encore Wind Ensemble, where she was a founding member in 1996, as well as the Como Pops during the summertime. Phyllis grew up in Chatfield, Minnesota where […]

Michael Merriman – Cello

Mike started playing with EMSO in 2019 after his cello had been collecting dust for 10 years. It was like riding a bike and before long he was not just playing with the orchestra, but also joined and organized multiple string ensembles to play for fun and at senior living centers. He has an eclectic […]

Makayla Lakeman – Violin

Makayla Lakeman started playing the violin in 6th grade, and continued playing in numerous orchestras through college. She joined EMSO in 2019 to continue playing after graduation. Makayla graduated with a Masters in Architecture from NDSU and is currently working at an Architecture firm in St. Paul. She grew up in Blaine, MN and since […]

Jeff Hogden – Tuba

It’s my grandfather’s fault. No not really. But Emil Newman, my grandfather, had a huge influence on me becoming a tuba player. He had his own old time dance band where he played bass horn. His other musicians played trumpet, clarinet, tenor saxophone, accordion, concertina, drums (Mom), and piano. Watching him and his band members […]

Haley Martin – Oboe & English Horn

My name is Haley Martin. I first played with EMSO during our side-by-side concerts when I attended East Ridge High School in 2015. In 2018, when I was a member of the River Falls Wind Ensemble at UWRF, I was told to look into EMSO. I remembered how fun it was to join the group […]

Caitlin Race – French Horn

Caitlin Race joined EMSO in 2019. She plays an Elkhart H-Series Conn 8D French Horn. Caitlin grew up in Eagan, MN and currently lives in Minneapolis with her rescue mutt, Carmel. She works as a research engineer at 3M. Her hobbies include biking, rock climbing, cross-country skiing, reading, and doing puzzles. EMSO is a great […]