Robin Waller joined EMSO in 2021, after a 13 year hiatus from playing percussion music. She was thrilled that EMSO graciously let her jump right back in to performing. She is a Microsoft Dynamics consultant and lives in St. Louis Park, MN. Her hobbies include tennis, pickleball, golf, xc skiing, volleyball, traveling, and trivia Robin
Brass and Percussion
Janet Boots Larson – Percussion
Janet Boots Larson joined EMSO’s percussion section in 2022. Boots taught music in public and parochial schools. She has a master’s in theology and is now retired clergy. She previously played clarinet in the Minnesota State Band and currently plays clarinet in the Leichtennein Nein Polka Band. Her husband, Ron, plays viola for EMSO. She
David Grover – Trumpet
David started performing with the brass section of EMSO in 2022. He plays trumpet. David is chip designer and lives in Eden Prairie. He is originally from Vermont.
Kevin Mallery – Trumpet
Kevin has been a member of EMSO since being recruited by his now wife (violinist Jeanette) in 2018. He grew up in Minnetonka and currently lives in Woodbury with his wife. Kevin is a trained mechanical engineer and practicing data scientist at TSI, Inc. in Shoreview. When not playing trumpet, Kevin enjoys reading sci-fi/fantasy novels
Andrew Bean – Saxophone
Andrew joined the EMSO in 2022. His day job is at Animal Emergency and Referral Center of Minnesota, where works as a veterinary specialist in companion exotic animals. He is a native of the Twin Cities, though his work took him to Tucson, Arizona; San Diego, California; and Norfolk, Virginia before returning home. He lives
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
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
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
Carl Meincke – Trombone
Carl Meincke joined EMSO in 2016. He plays an Edwards bass trombone. He is a retired music educator. He grew up in Green Bay, WI and currently resides in Hudson, WI.
Marsha Pearson – Trombone
Marsha Pearson plays a Conn 88H instrument. She is a retired music educator. She grew up in River Falls, WI and continues to reside there.