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 […]
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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 […]
Brittany Wagner – Viola
Brittany joined EMSO in 2018 after a 5 year hiatus from playing viola. Brittany is a geologist-in-training (GIT) for American Engineering Testing. She grew up in New Berlin, WI and now reside in St Paul. In her free time, Brittany enjoy hiking, biking, and crafting. Brittany currently serves as Secretary on the EMSO Board of […]
Brianna Larsen – French Horn
Brianna joined EMSO in the spring of 2018. She grew up in Tea, South Dakota and currently resides in Inver Grove Heights. She comes from a long line of musicians, which includes her mother, who has been a church organist since the age of 13, and her grandmother, who played in a band in the […]
Terry Wilson – Bassoon
Uh-Oh, Here Comes Christmas!
The East Metro Symphony Orchestra (EMSO), in collaboration with Applause Community Theatre (ACT), is pleased to present Uh-Oh, Here Comes Christmas!, a musical concert featuring excerpts from the play by David Caldwell and Ernest Zulia. The performance will be held Sunday, December 15, 2019 at 3:00 p.m. at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, 2499 Helen Street […]