Sandi Hurtado-Peters

Violin

First rehearsal: April 6, 2010

Rebecca Wilson

French Horn

First rehearsal: January 5, 2010

Yoshihiro (Yoshi) Ozaki

Cello

First rehearsal: January 12, 2010

Yoshi comes from Chiba, Japan.  He graduated from a university in Japan with a Business degree, and also from Baylor University in Texas with Biochemistry and Music degrees. Yoshi studied cello at Baylor, where he performed Elgar's Cello Concerto with the Baylor Campus Orchestra. Currently, Yoshi is at Des Moines University studying to become a physician. While here, he formed a Des Moines University quartet, including fellow DMCO musicians, Nicole Nelson and Deb Gordley. Yoshi is a ski instructor, and loves baking cakes, and cooking.

Khristi Blocton

Cello

First rehearsal: January 5, 2010

Brad Smerage

Violin

First rehearsal: November 10, 2009

Brad relocated to Des Moines from Seattle, WA, in 2004. With him came his wife, Sarah, and daughter, Grace. Their son, Owen, followed shortly in 2005. By day, Brad is a tax consultant with RSM McGladrey. Music has always been a central part of life for Brad, playing both the violin and guitar for several years. Violin was a significant focus in the early years, including starting off college as a violin performance major. In more recent years, the guitar took primary focus, and he has played in several bands, playing music for some of the night crowds in Seattle and Des Moines. Brad says joining DMCO feels like "coming home" again - playing symphonic music again reminds him of one of the true joys of life.

Laura DeKock

Viola

First rehearsal: October 6, 2009

Laura is from Pella, Iowa, and currently attends Faith Baptist Bible College in Ankeny. Laura also works at the Animal Health Clinic in Ankeny.

Grant Caswell

Bassoon

First rehearsal: September 29, 2009

Grant is from Des Moines, and is currently a Music Major at Drake University. He graduated from Southeast Polk High School in 2008, and has played bassoon since December 2005. Grant also loves kilts and things that involve kilts, but is yet to learn to play the bagpipes ... something coming soon no doubt.

Loren Stoneberg

Trumpet

First rehearsal: September 8, 2009

Loren grew up in the country near Aredale, Iowa, attending high school in Dumont. Education includes a B.S. in Pastoral Studies at Faith Baptist College in Ankeny, Iowa. Married 23 years, his family includes wife Brenda, son Erik, 20, and daughter Rachael, 18. Loren works in welding at Vermeer  in Pella, and is active on weekends in Pulpit Supply in north central Iowa. His family is very musical -- in addition to Loren on trumpet, Brenda plays horn, Rachael piano, and Erik trumpet and guitar. 

Susanna Fessel

Violin

First rehearsal: September 8, 2009

A senior at Faith Baptist College in Ankeny, Iowa, Susanna is from Charles City, Iowa, but grew up in Germany. Susanna is pursuing a degree in music education. 

Scott Thebeau

Violin

First rehearsal: September 8, 2009

Originally from St. Louis, Missouri, Scott attended Parks College of St. Louis University. With a degree in Aviation Science, Scott works as a pilot for Republic Airways. After a life-long interest in the violin, Scott finally began taking violin lessons about 2-1/2 years ago. 

Gail Harrison

Violin

First rehearsal: September 8, 2009

Gail recently moved to Des Moines from Muscatine, Iowa, where she played in the Muscatine Symphony Orchestra under Brian Dollinger. Originally from Mt. Morris, Michigan, Gail and her husband have two sons. Gail has been playing violin since 1997.

Hoang Bui

Violin

First rehearsal: September 8, 2009

Hoang is married, and mother of four children. Des Moines is hometown, and she works at Wells Fargo Financial. Hoang is a graduate of Simpson College in Indianola, Iowa. 

Adam Ford

Cello

First rehearsal: September 8, 2009

Adam is a life-long resident of West Des Moines, and currently attends Heritage Christian Academy in Des Moines. In addition to cello, he plays 7-string jazz guitar, bass guitar, bass clarinet, fiddle, mandolin, and pretty much anything else with strings that he can get his hands on. Adam is a member of the West Des Moines Community Band, and contributes to music ministry weekly at church services. 

Derrick Hawks

Trombone

First rehearsal: September 8, 2009

Derrick grew up in Dunbar, Wisconsin. He's currently a student at Faith Baptist College in Ankeny, working on a degree in music education. Derrick's hobbies include music, reading, and baseball. 

Michael Swope

Trumpet

First rehearsal: September 8, 2009

Michael is a recent graduate of Faith Baptist College in Ankeny, his hometown. Currently, Michael works at Perishable Distributors of Iowa, and will soon start studies for a Masters in Music Education. Michael helped start a brass quintet called Impromptu Brass, where he performs weekly. Michael is married to "a beautiful young lady named Susan."

Nicole Nelson

Violin

First rehearsal: September 8, 2009

Nicole recently returned to hometown, Des Moines, after attending undergraduate studies at Augustana College in Rock Island, IL, majoring there in biology, anthropology, and pre-med, with  minors in mathematics and biochemistry. Nicole now attends Des Moines University, studying to become a physician.

Stephen Lounsbrough

Violin

First rehearsal: September 22, 2009

Julie Stroud

Violin

First rehearsal: September 29, 2009

A Des Moines native, Julie grew up in West Des Moines. She studied violin locally with Jim Brauninger and Cheryl Kutscher, and earned music degrees as an adult student from the University of Tennessee Chattanooga and the University of Northern Iowa. Julie teaches violin locally, and via live webcam to students in Nevada, New Jersey, and Newfoundland. She also enjoys writing, playing with dirt, food and power tools, and dabbling with rock and blues on her electric violin. Julie lives in Norwalk with her husband Pat, son Eric (4), and Purrcy the Cat. Visit her on the web at http://www.violinnovation.com .

Amanda Lundberg

French horn

First rehearsal: February 10, 2009

Originally from Norwalk, Amanda now lives in West Des Moines, IA. Amanda is a graduate of the University of Iowa, with a BA in music and political science. She currently works for Wells Fargo as an underwriter. Amanda reports her favorite hobbies includes traveling - she has been to nine countries, and 20 states, plus Washington DC.

Patricia (Pat) Hartman 

Cello 

First rehearsal: Fall 2008 

Pat was born, bred and educated mostly in Missouri (Missouri Western University). Last year she and her husband moved to the Des Moines area from Cedar Rapids, following their three daughters and their families here. Pat first played the cello as an elementary/junior high student. Five years ago, when she retired from a career in marketing, she took it up again. Pat says, "How fortunate Des Moines is to have a volunteer orchestra such as this, and how blessed I am to be a part of it!"

Chris Wiese

Cello

First rehearsal: Fall 2008

Chris attended UNI and studied Music Education. She worked in Television Production in Cedar Falls for the past 10 years, but have recently changed careers to be a full time stay-at-home Mom to Ian, 3 and Isaac, 3 months. We moved to Ankeny in October 08 when my husband, Dave, was transferred here with John Deere. I grew up in Mason City and still play cello in the Encore String Quartet there.

Alison Ryan

Viola

First rehearsal: January 6, 2009

Hometown for Alison is Viroqua, Wisconsin. She graduated from St. Olaf College in 2001. Alison began playing the violin when she was five years old, and the viola when she was 16. In addition to music, Alison also enjoys dance, international travel, languages, and playing card games. With her husband, Paul, she has lived in Des Moines since 2007.

Bernard Feldman

Cello

First rehearsal: Jan 6, 2009

Bernard was born in Tucson, Arizona, and is married with four children (ages 26, 20, 11 and 11). Bernard is a physician -- gastroenterologist, graduating from Des Moines University in 1980. In addition to playing the cello, he enjoys reading, travel, and golf. 

Judith Dixon

Cello

First rehearsal: October 7, 2008

I'm not exactly a new face, as I resurrect the cello periodically and play when my schedule permits. I have played in the Urbandale summer musical theater orchestra several times, and regularly perform chamber music with Kris Shay and Kendall Childs. I was born and raised in the South Bend, IN, area where I began piano lessons at age 4 and cello at the age of 17. I received a BME degree from Augustana College in Rock Island, IL. Currently, I am one of the worship leaders at Westchester Evangelical Church and I maintain a piano studio of 22 students. The joys of my life are my 7-month old twin granddaughters, Ellie and Katie. ( I always have pictures!)

Almae English

Violin

First rehearsal: September 30, 2008

Samuel Johnson

Trombone

First rehearsal: September 2, 2008

Dr. K. Cahill

Cello

First rehearsal: September 9, 2008

Born & raised in Iowa, BA and 2 MA degrees from UNI, Doctorate from Univ. of Missouri. Currently working on second doctorate in higher education administration. Other interests include travel, antiques, classic cars, and home restoration projects.