Please give a warm welcome to our new members!

In the 2007/2008 season: 

Adam Byersdorfer

Trumpet

First rehearsal: January 15, 2008.

Tim Jones

Trombone

First rehearsal: January 7, 2008.

Tim graduated in 2000 from Urbandale High School, and then graduated in 2004 from UNI, with a degree in Music Education. He is currently in hid third year teaching 5-12 band in Guthrie Center. Tim lives in Panora with his two dogs.

Hoyt Phelps

Trumpet.

First rehearsal: Oct. 2007.

Born in Illinois, Phelps lived in Vermont for 15 years, during which time he served as President of the Vermont Philharmonic Orchestra. He moved to Des Moines in 2005. A graduate of Middleburg College, and Northwestern University for an MBA degree, Phelps currently works for Aviva Capital Management. 

Nick Borror

Bass violin.

First rehearsal: Sep.  4, 2007.

Nick grew up in Norwalk, Iowa, and is a 2003 graduate of Drake University, where he studied Music Business. As well as playing for DMCO, he can be found playing in several local bands, such as Index Case, Taciturn, By the Beard of Zeus, and The Films of John C. Reilly. Nick says he's playing music to pay the bills until his waiting-tables career takes off. Looks like the T-shirt could be a clue for how we can help...

Joy Hutson

French horn.

First rehearsal: Sep. 4, 2007.

Joy is from Maryville, TN, and is an avid football fan of the Colts. She has a Masters in Statistics, and currently works for John Deere Credit Union as a Credit Risk Analyst. Joy's family consists of her husband, Murph, dog, Lily, and cat, Amadeus. Hobbies are playing piano and horn, scrapbooking, and watching movies. Still living in Tennesse are Joy's Mom, her twin sister, her brother, and other extended family members. 

John Kahrl

Clarinet.

First rehearsal: Sep. 4, 2007.

Katie Baillie

Violin.

First rehearsal: Sep. 4, 2007.

Katie lives in Perry, IA, has played the violin since she was five years old, and has been a student at Iowa State University. 

In the 2006/2007 season:

Hannelore Clemenson

Cello.

First rehearsal: January 2, 2007.

Hannelore grew up in Pella, and went to college in Michigan. She has a four-year-old son, Sebastian, and she likes to put on musical programs in retirement homes. Hannelore enjoys biking, and is also a student of T'ai Chi. 

Rebekah Jacobi

Violin.

First rehearsal: March 6, 2007.

Kara May

Viola.

Sara Smith

Cello.

First rehearsal: September 5, 2006.

Sara, who has been playing cello since ninth grade, earned a Music minor from UNI in 2000. After teaching high school English in Missouri, Sara returned to Iowa in 2004 to pursue an M.A. in English at ISU. She hopes to graduate in May and is currently employed as a technical writer at The Principal Financial Group. Sara's other interests include kickboxing at Farrell's, mentoring a first grader through the Everybody Wins! reading program, participating in church choirs, and spending time at home in Winterset with her husband Josh and dog Scout.

Marit Johnson

Violin. 

Laura Nilan

Viola.

Danielle Walling

Violin.

First rehearsal: September 5, 2006.

Danielle is from Dubuque, IA. She is currently a sophomore at Simpson College in Indianola where she studys English and Mass Communications. Danielle has been playing violin for 11 years, and I also enjoys reading and hanging out with friends.

Emily Wells

French Horn.

First rehearsal: September 5, 2006.

Justin Wells

Trombone.

First rehearsal: September 5, 2006

Justin grew up in Boone, and now lives in Urbandale with his wife, Emily, and their cats, Campbell and Ellie. Justin received a Bachelor of Music: Music Education from UNI in 2004, and is currently pursuing Master of Music: Music Education from UNI, while also working as elementary band instructor for the Johnston Community School District. 

Justin's interests include playing euphonium in Central Iowa Wind Ensemble and Boone Municipal Band, basketball and football officiating, watching sports and sitcoms, and spending time with family and friends. 

Mimi Nguyen-Wear

Violin.

First rehearsal: September 12, 2006.

Mimi has been playing violin from grade school throughout college. She has a Marketing degree/Entrepreneurial Certificate from the University of Iowa, where she graduated in 2005. Currently, Mimi works in the marketing area for The Principal Financial Group. She lives in Des Moines with her husband, Lucas, and their son, Alexander.

Erin McKeown

Violin.

First rehearsal: September 5, 2006.

Erin graduated from Iowa State in 2005 with a degree in Marketing and Management. She currently lives in West Des Moines, and works for Special Olympics Iowa. Erin has been playing the violin since elementary school and throughout college.

Lynn DeVries

Violin.

First rehearsal: September 5, 2006.

Lynn is originally from Mason City, and moved to West Des Moines in 2005. She's a past member of the North Iowa Symphony, and played with Encore String Quartet for more than 25 years. Lynn has a degree in Elementary Education, and presently teaches in the Waukee School district.

Lyn Schuck

Cello.

First rehearsal: September 5, 2006.

Lyn recently moved from Las Cruces, New Mexico, to be be closer to her family. In addition to playing the cello, Lyn is a math instructor, a free lance artist, and an author. She has a bachelor's degree in Art Education from Indiana University, and a master's degree in Education from  New Mexico State University. 

Michael Ramirez

Trumpet & percussion.

First rehearsal: January, 2006.

Originally from Tucson, Arizona, Michael moved to Iowa in 2005. He previously worked in the computer and customer service industry, and owned his own delivery company. Currently he's a full time student at Drake University, pursuing a Law, Politics, & Society Degree. Michael is involved in ROTC, Marching Band/Concert Band, College Republicans, is pledging Phi Mu Alpha Simphonia, and works as an intramural sports official. Michael also works part time as a notary signing agent. He's also involved with the Des Moines Community Band. In his spare time he enjoys his computer, and watching reruns of "CSI" and "Law & Order."