Laura joined EMSO in 2025 after settling back into her home state of MN. She grew up in Rochester where high school band was a huge part of her life. She played a little in college before taking a (long) break from music to focus on school, starting a career as a veterinarian, moving to
Brass and Percussion
Peter Eigenfeld – Trumpet
Peter currently serves on EMSO’s Board of Directors.
Lisa Brown – Percussion / Clarinet
Lisa has played in the EMSO percussion section since Fall 2023. This has been her first opportunity to play orchestral percussion, and she has enjoyed learning tambourine, glockenspiel, cymbals, timpani, and other instruments. Her main instrument is clarinet with a BA in Music from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, LA, where she grew up.
Bruce Hartleben – Percussion
Denny McGinn – French Horn
Denny has played with EMSO on a number of occasions in the past and is spending the 2024-2025 season as a permanet sub with the orchestra. Denny retired as a software engineer and then turned horn playing into a full-time occupation. He now plays with several community groups including Camerata Brass, the UWRF Symphony Band,
Robin Waller – Percussion
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
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
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