Conductors
Principal Conductor - OPEN POSITION
Max Voda, Associate Conductor
Max Voda joined the City of Lakes Community Band in December 2022. He grew up in Minneapolis and attended St. Olaf college, where he earned a Bachelor's degree in Instrumental Music Education. He currently teaches in both the Minneapolis and Edina public school districts as an orchestra teacher and substitute and has also taught music in Robbinsdale. Max's primary instruments are the violin and string bass, and he participates in a variety of musical ensembles in the Twin Cities area.
Board of Directors
Nathan Kreps, President
Nathan (trumpet) joined the CLCB in 2018. Nathan picked the trumpet at 5th grade music night and never looked back. He played in concert, jazz and marching bands in high school (highlighted by playing in the Tournament of Roses Parade with the North Dakota High School Centennial Band!) and continued playing in various ensembles at Augustana College (the South Dakota one). Then he hung up his trumpet for more than 20 years until his kids started band. He's overjoyed to play again regularly with the CLCB. He works as an IT project manager at Allina Health and lives in southwest Minneapolis with his wife, three boys, two cats and a dog.
Tim VanBlaricom, Vice President
Tim (clarinet) joined the CLCB long long ago.
Greg Lundberg, Treasurer
Greg (bassoon) joined the band in 2022.
Cindy Russell-Twomey, Secretary
Cindy (trumpet) joined the City of Lakes Band in 2007. She began playing trumpet in 5th grade, loved marching band in high school, and played in both the Concert and Pep bands at Marquette University. Cindy can't speak another language, but she can read music and that's what counts in band.
Leah Hunter, Director of Communications
Leah (percussion) joined the City of Lakes Community Band in May 2022. She has been singing since before she could form sentences and playing piano since she was five years old. She switched from flute to percussion between middle school and high school. She has always been actively involved in musical groups, some of those including marching band, jazz band, percussion ensemble, a cappella choir, jazz choir, and musical theatre performances. She has a degree in Music and Theatre, with a focus in music composition, from Hamline University. She is currently a manager and dog walker for Twin Cities Pets in Saint Paul. She lives in Minneapolis with her partner and three legged dog.
Emily Miller, Director of Logistics
Emily (flute), has been a member of CLCB since 2008. She has played flute since the 5th grade, first in Roseville area schools and then at Gustavus Adolphus College as a member of what is now the Gustavus Wind Symphony. After graduating with a degree in History and French, Emily spent a year living in France as an English teacher. Teaching was not her thing, as it turns out. Upon returning to MN, she found she missed the camaraderie and fun of playing in a band and 10+ years later, here we are. Emily works in operations for Life Floor, and lives with her husband, daughter, and cat in the Lake Nokomis area of Minneapolis.
Spencer Felten, Past President
Spencer (percussion) joined the CLCB in October 2017. He began his musical endeavors playing Trombone like his father before him but played piano on the side for fun. Piano led to xylophone and marimba, and soon enough he was a full blown percussionist on the drums. Spencer has played in percussion ensembles, jazz bands, high school marching/pep bands, and been a member of a pit orchestra doing sound effects for Central Lakes College's showing of Spamalot!
Member Roster
Piccolo
Catherine Courtney
Flute
Ann Buck*
Rachel Battles
Emily Miller
Zoe Brokering
Michelle Schulp
Bronte Stewart
Oboe
Devon Ratliff-Crain
Megan Schommer
Bassoon
Karen Halls
Greg Lundberg
Clarinet
Ray Biernat
Phil Breczinski
Gretchen Poster
Rachel Doely
Paul Lucke
Becky Owen
Sara Perry
Karen Scheffing
Karen Thorson Grivna*
Tim VanBlaricom
Samuel White
Bass Clarinet
Elisabeth Hunt
Erica Orton
Hillary Peetsch
Alto Saxophone
Dustin Bethke*
Loryn Caldie
Zane Halstead
Sara Kimm
Tenor Saxophone
Karissa Roden
Christine Van Tassel
Baritone Saxophone
Nina Myszkowski
Trumpet
Todd Alle
Ellen Block
Kelly Grucelski
Maria Hoglund
Nathan Kreps
Paul Robinson
Cindy Russell-Twomey
Emily Stein*
Horn
Jenna Brennan
Ted Gleckner
Anna Heinzerling
Ryan Kroening
Anna Miller
Leah Robinson
Kristy Mills*
Trombone
Chris Brand*
Tiffany Brand
Dennis Dyce
Pete Kallal
Andrew Kaner
Steven Lehr
Julie McLeod
Euphonium
Jack Emptage
Megan Fournier
Kelly Kronenwetter*
Tuba
Toni Brown
Zachary Strahan
Brand Willey
Percussion
Grant Karels
Nicole Bridgland
Spencer Felten
Mark Josephson
Jared Kronenwetter*
Leah Hunter
* Section leader
Members on hiatus
Betsy Hammer, Carol Johnson, Bill Martinson, Mitch Miller, Kelli Schmitz, Margie Simon, and Sara Wenzel Endstrom