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
Upper Strings
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
Dave Englund – Violin
Dave Englund joined EMSO in the spring of 2018. His violin was made in Germany in 1758. Age doesn’t make a violin good, but Dave appreciates how the centuries of playing contribute to the beautiful, mellow voice if the violin. Dave worked as a Minneapolis. Public Schools music teacher for 31 years, until retiring in 2015. Most
Mary Jane Latu – Violin
Mary Jane Latu joined EMSO during the fall of 2018. She currently works in Governance & Compliance at a tech company. She grew up in Brooklyn Park, MN, and is now living in the uptown area of Minneapolis. Spending time with family and friends brings her joy. A message from Mary: If you’re reading this
Joan Molloy
Joined EMSO in 2017, serving first as a temporary concert master, and then obtaining the position beginning in the 2017-18 concert year.
Joan plays a 2007 Stephano Gibartoni Violin.
She works as a violinist and violin teacher
She grew up in Oberlin and St Cloud, but now lives in River Falls, WI
She loves to garden, spend time with her dog, and spend time in the woods
Check her full bio for more info.
Jeanette Mallery – Violin
Jeanette Mallery joined EMSO in 2017. She plays a Caprice Deluxe Cleveland violin, 2003. Jeanette works as a paraprofessional at Liberty Ridge Elementary. She has also been an instructor for the Color Guard at East Ridge High School since 2013. She grew up in Woodbury, MN and currently lives in St. Paul. She spent five
Karl Ruesterholz – Violin
Karl Ruesterholz joined EMSO in 2017. He plays a Steiniger violin. Karl grew up in Hillsboro, Oregon, and now lives in Stillwater, MN. When Karl is not working for Delta as an airport ramp agent, he spends his time fishing, hiking, flying planes, and of course, playing music.
William Chiu – Violin
William Chiu joined EMSO in 2015. The talented William Chiu grew up in the Richmond, VA area. He recently moved to Woodbury, MN relocating as a research engineer for 3M.