Kathryn Marget has played violin with EMSO off and on over the past several years. She, her husband, and two German Shepherds live in Stillwater. Kathryn is the Gifted and Talented Coordinator for Mahtomedi Public Schools and enjoys reading, travel, and hiking with her dogs. She is the only violinist in a family of three cellists!
Musicians
Maria Kennedy – Violin
Maria joined EMSO for the 2022-2023 season at the encouragement of a wonderful coworker, and is incredibly glad to be playing music again regularly after about a 10 year hiatus. She and her violin are both grateful for the welcoming orchestra members and to share music with such a fun-loving audience. Originally from southeastern WI,
Racheal Frost – Violin
Racheal joined EMSO in the fall of 2021, to play violin in the second violin section. She grew up in Anoka MN, and now she lives in Minneapolis with her husband and 2 cats. Minneapolis has been home for 9 years, and also the location of her massage therapy business called Paradox Bodywork. Racheal has
Sheryl Frey – Violin
Meegan Frank – Violin
Meegan joined EMSO in the spring of 2022. She grew up in Cottage Grove, MN and has played violin in school and community orchestras since 2010. She now works for a nonprofit lab in St. Paul and enjoys spending time outdoors in her free time. She is grateful to share the joy of making music
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