Meet the Musicians

Mary Kay Robinson

Principal Flute

Sponsor: Anita Scanlon

Hometown: Camillus, New York

Favorite Pops Concert: Tribute to the Armed Forces, my Dad was a WWII Veteran.

Favorite Thing to do in Cleveland: Enjoy all the cultural offerings, running around Shaker Lakes and biking in the MetroParks.

I have climbed all 48 high peaks of New Hampshire and am a lover of nature, animals, ethnic cuisine and culture.

Fun Fact

Kyra Kester

Flute

Sponsor: Randy Solomon & Nancy Glick

Hometown: Spring Creek, PA

Favorite Pops Concert: New Year’s Eve because the audience is always extra enthusiastic!

Favorite Thing to do in Cleveland: Hiking in the MetroParks.

I share my home with four tuxedo cats, two house rabbits and a parrot (he’s very musically inclined, by the way)!

Fun Fact

Martin Neubert

Principal Oboe

Hometown: Palm Beach, Florida

Favorite Pops Concert: The annual holiday concert at the Palace Theater. I love it because so many families attend as a tradition to kick off the holiday season.

Favorite Thing to do in Cleveland: Happy hour at one of our amazing restaurants.

I am a Realtor with Howard Hanna Chagrin Falls. My therapy dog Porter and I volunteer with "Tail Waggin' Tudors", assisting young children with reading and building self esteem.

Fun Fact

Jesse Martin

Oboe

Sponsor: Barry & Lynn Chesler

Hometown: Avon, Ohio

Favorite Pops Concert: New Years Eve at Severance Hall

Favorite Thing to do in Cleveland: Biking in the Metroparks

I love to collect Woodwind Instruments.

Fun Fact

Louis Gangale

Principal Clarinet

Sponsor: Carl Topilow

Hometown: Born and raised in Cleveland

Favorite Pops Concert: Any concert I can play Gershwin's Rhapsody In Blue!

Favorite Thing to do in Cleveland: Visit the Metroparks.

My lifelong hobby is antique cars. I have a 1958 Corvette which I restored and enjoy driving during the warm summer months!

Fun Fact

Benjamin Chen

Clarinet

Sponsor: Irwin & Eileen Dinn

Hometown: Greenville, South Carolina

Favorite Pops Concert: New Year's Eve! It's so much fun to ring in the new year playing in Severance Hall.

Favorite Thing to do in Cleveland: Spending time in the main library downtown, wandering around the Museum of Art, and watching sunsets over Lake Erie in different parts of town.

My favorite authors are Alan Hollinghurst and Toni Morrison.

Fun Fact

Roberto Iriarte

Principal Bassoon

Hometown: Hudson, OH

Favorite Pops Concert: John Williams Tribute

Favorite Thing to do in Cleveland: Explore the vast variety of restaurants.

Arleigh Savage

Bassoon

Hometown: East Lansing, MI

Favorite Pops Concert: In our 22-23 season vocalist & Judy Garland scholar, Joan Ellison, joined us for a concert of Garland's music. I learned so much about Judy Garland's life and the music was sublime!

Favorite Thing to do in Cleveland: Enjoying Cleveland's lakefront in the summer.

I love to sail and worked at the Michigan State University Sailing Center the summers during my undergraduate years.

Fun Fact

Kent Larmee

Principal Horn

Hometown: I live in Kent, Ohio, but I’m originally from Chicago.

Favorite Pops Concert: Of course I always enjoy the film music of John Williams, but I think my favorite shows feature the music from great musicals sung by award-winning Broadway stars. It’s always a thrill hearing those great voices in the superb acoustics of Severance Hall.

Favorite Thing to do in Cleveland: I am an avid cyclist and I enjoy the many bike trails in and around the Cuyahoga Valley National Park.

I’m a little too familiar with the great craft breweries of Northeast Ohio.

Fun Fact:

Ken Wadenpfuhl

Horn

Sponsor: Irwin & Eileen Dinn

Hometown: Kirbyville, Texas. A very small place in southeast Texas, a former sawmill town. My dad taught me Horn and was my high school band director. My mother taught me piano and accompanied me on all the hard stuff for solo competitions.

Favorite Pops Concert: Always, John Williams

Favorite thing to do in Cleveland: Being a freelance musician… but then, I also like Five Guys burgers.

I have written and recorded a few instrumental CD’s, quiet and meditative style.

Fun Fact

Heather Johnson

Horn

Sponsor: Millette and Company

Favorite Pops Concert: I would say my favorite Pops is our annual Christmas concert in the Palace Theatre. I love everything about that show, except for the dicey high F# solo I have to play in The Night Before Christmas…

Favorite Thing to do in Cleveland: The principal horn and I often walk to the museum before the concert and eat a late lunch in the atrium space. It’s pretty cool.

I am the founder and president of Beaver Island Conservancy which is working to restore and protect a special place in Lake Michigan. My sisters and I all attended Interlochen Center for the Arts when we were little, and my family fell in love with the area. My nature conservancy is a loosely-logical extension of that love.

Fun Fact

David Brocket

Horn

Gary Davis

Principal Trumpet

Sponsor: Sandy & Jeff Brausch

Hometown: Twinsburg, Ohio

Favorite Pops Concert: John Williams concerts and the Salute to our Veterans concerts.

Favorite Thing to do in Cleveland: Eating out with family and friends in Little Italy.

My teachers have included James Thompson, Michael Sachs, Eugene Blee, Phil Collins and Robert Dolwick.

Fun Fact

Larry Herman

Trumpet

Sponsor: Penelope & Michael Shemo
Hometown: Parma, OH
Favorite Pops Concert: My favorite Pops concerts are those that feature the music of John Williams. For brass players, they are the most challenging and the most fun to play.

Jack Schantz

Trumpet

Sponsor: Shirley Morgenstern

Hometown: Orville, OH

Favorite Pops Concert: All are fun and challenging in different ways

Favorite Thing to do in Cleveland: Play at Severance Hall with the Pops

Hobbies include: gardening, billiards, driving vintage Porsche, military history

Fun Fact

Paul Ferguson

Principal Trombone

Sponsor: David & Hope Koncal

Hometown: Massilon, OH

Favorite Pops Concert: Joint concerts with the Cleveland Jazz Orchestra

Favorite Thing to do in Cleveland: Sunset on the Solstice steps in Lakewood

I've completed the New Hampshire portion of the Appalachian trail.

Fun Fact

Scott Garlock

Trombone

Hometown: Born in Howell, MI, raised in Cuyahoga Falls, OH
Favorite Pops Concert: There have been many! But, “To reach the unreachable stars”. It was really an ambitious program, and it had so many additional moving parts. Everyone rose to the occasion.
Favorite Thing to do in Cleveland: I love Cleveland. Walking around the neighborhoods, and especially checking out some of the many incredible restaurants and haunts.

Would rather see a bad movie than a good one. Love to exercise.

Fun Fact

Paul Hungerford

Trombone

Sponsor: Janice Schwieterman

Hometown: Born in Lakehurst NJ, but grew up in Euclid.

I’m an Eagle Scout. For my Eagle projects I made manipulative games to help the patients practice moving their hands and arms.

Fun Fact

Gary Adams

Principal Tuba

Andrew Pongracz

Principal Timpani

Hometown: Elyria, OH

Favorite Pops Concert: The Armed Forces Concert in May. My father and many of my uncles served in World War II and I am always grateful for a chance to honor their service to their country.

Favorite Thing to do in Cleveland: I like to explore the many different kinds of restaurants in Cleveland, as well as shopping at the West Side Market. I also enjoy spending time in the Metroparks with my wife and sons.

My oldest son and I are in a short film made for the Cleveland Clinic about empathy. The video went viral and has been viewed over 5 million times. I also have a percussion duo named duo Anime that has a Facebook account.

Fun Fact

Evan Mitchell

Principal Percussion

Hometown: Painesville, Ohio
Favorite Pops Concert: The Broadway concerts
Favorite thing to do in Cleveland: Visit the West Side Market.

My great, great grandfather worked as a Union Carpenter on the Terminal Tower from 1926-1929.

Fun Fact

Jim Rupp

Principal Drum Set

Sponsor: Thompson Hine, LLP
Hometown: Canton, OH
Favorite Pops Concert: Sinatra because of the great combination of a big band with the orchestra and the John Williams shows because of the all the great snare parts
Favorite Thing to do in Cleveland: Play in the Pops and the CJO!

I am a WWII history buff!

Fun Fact

Rock Wehrmann

Principal Piano

Favorite Pops Concert: The Marvin Hamlisch concert, because I really enjoy his writing (and because I was featured a lot).

Favorite Thing to do in Cleveland: Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, and dinner at 1# Pho.

I repair and collect vintage Mercedes-Benz automobiles.

Fun Fact

Jody Guinn

Principal Harp

Hometown: Billings, Montana

Favorite Pops Concert: Broadway Musical concerts with all those fun songs

Favorite thing to do in Cleveland: Walk on the Maple Highlands Trail in Geauga County

I played the flute and piccolo from 4th grade all the way through college; I am a band director's daughter and had to be in the marching band!

Fun Fact

Carol Ruzicka

Concertmaster, First Violin

Sponsor: Philip Lloyd II

Mary Beth Ions

Violin

Sponsor: George & Mary Leuca III
Hometown: Cleveland, OH
Favorite Pops Concert: I love each one! Every time I think, "wow, I DO believe that was my favorite Pops concert" the next one comes along and I say the SAME thing again!
Favorite Thing To Do in Cleveland: I love to walk in our beautiful MetroParks, enjoy the huge variety of wonderful restaurants, and visit the Museum of Art. Of course I love playing my violin in diverse venues from MetroHealth Hospital to weddings on the Lake Erie shore! It's a special joy to play on-stage at Severance Hall with our beloved Pops.

I've traveled to almost every country in the EU. Malta is next and will complete the list!

Fun Fact

Donna Bartlett Jelen

Violin

Sponsor: Wolf Investors, LLC

Leslie Braidech

Violin

Sponsor: Blair Mooney

Hometown: Cleveland, OH

Favorite Pops Concert (I recall 3 in particular): Time for Three, Carpathia Jenkins, & the Music of Leroy Anderson

Favorite Thing to do in Cleveland: Walking my dog in any MetroPark, or taking in a movie at the Cedar-Lee (with dinner at Anatolia Cafe afterwards)

I'm psychic (HA....I knew you would doubt this!)

Fun Fact

Sara Schaft

Violin

Sponsor: David & Julie Borsani

Hometown: Poland, Ohio (near Youngstown, Ohio)

Favorite Pops Concert: Most memorable (maybe not my favorite!!)Cleveland Pops Concert:
There was a Halloween/Harvest concert about five years ago in October at the 9th street pier and park. It rained so hard we had to huddle in our cars. Somehow, the show still happened and Carl appeared in his Superman costume. I still have to laugh when I think of that day.

Favorite Thing to do in Cleveland: Visit the Museum of Art

I like to be outdoors. I enjoy backyard gardening, watching the birds at our feeders and walking in the Poland Woods (a local area for hiking).

Fun Fact

Emily Cornelius

Violin

Hometown: Severna Park, MD

Favorite Pops Concert: Holiday Pops

Favorite Thing to do in Cleveland: Visit the libraries

I am naturally introverted, but nothing brings me out of my "shell" like music and dogs.

Fun Fact

Sam Petrey

Violin

Hometown: Cleveland Heights, OH

Favorite Pops Concert: Any time we get to play with Morgan James, her voice is unreal!

Favorite thing to do in Cleveland: Go for a hike then visit one of our many fantastic breweries!

In addition to being a violinist in the Pops I'm also a host on Cleveland's own WCLV!

Fun Fact

Cory Smith

Violin

Priscilla Eva

Principal II Violin

Hometown: Shaker Heights, OH
Favorite Pops Concert: A Comedy Tonight, followed by all the John Williams concerts
Favorite Thing to do in Cleveland: Sunsets at Clifton Beach

I spent a year studying violin in Paris, France at age 21. I also learned to drink wine and espresso.

Fun Fact

Victor Beyens

Violin

Maria Beyens

Violin

Sponsor: Alice Lang

Hometown: Seoul, South Korea

Favorite Pops Concert: Armed forces tribute concert

Favorite Thing to do in Cleveland: Spending time on the Lake Erie Beaches

I run a Korean food pop-up kitchen “MariaParkBistro” and I used to be a street dancer and I sing in multiple bands!

Fun Fact

Maria Monday

Violin

Liesl Hook-Langmack

Violin

Sponsor: Ryan & Teri Marrie

Allison Siekmann

Violin

Hometown: Cincinnati, Ohio

Favorite Pops Concert: The memorial day concert!

Favorite Thing to do in Cleveland: Visit our beautiful Metroparks.

I had the wonderful opportunity to spend this past summer in Vienna, Austria performing in an opera festival.

Fun Fact

Lisa Goldman

Violin

Sponsor: Sally & Don Messinger

Hometown: Pittsburgh, PA

Favorite Pops Concert: The New Years Eve Concert.

Favorite Thing to do in Cleveland: Go to Edgewater Beach (when it's warm!).

I met my husband in eighth grade orchestra!

Fun Fact

Nancy Patterson

Violin

Hometown: Vienna, WV
Favorite Pops Concert: Daniel Rodriguez Memorial Day concert. My husband is a firefighter so we've appreciated Rodriguez since 9/11.
Favorite Thing to do in Cleveland: Walk and enjoy the Metroparks, from Edgewater to the Emerald Necklace

I met Charlton Heston at Colorado Philharmonic concert at Kennedy Center in Washington, DC!

Fun Fact

Ann Yu

Violin

Sponsor: Alice Lang

Hometown: Hudson, OH

Favorite Pops Concert: New Year's Eve

Favorite thing to do in Cleveland: Giving visiting friends the grand tour of Cleveland and showing them all the wonderful gems.

I volunteer for the Cuyahoga Valley National Parks taking water level measurements in the wetlands.

Fun Fact

Hosanna Carella

Violin

Hometown: San Juan, Puerto Rico

Favorite Pops Concert: Any concert that features the Maestro’s multicolored Clarinet.

Almost knocked over a column in the ruins of Ephesus.

Fun Fact

Alexandra Vago

Principal Viola

Hometown: Parma, OH
Favorite Pops Concert: All John Williams concerts
Favorite Thing to do in Cleveland: Going to the Metroparks

I play exclusively on Luis & Clark Carbon Fiber Instruments.

Fun Fact

Lara Roberts Dudack

Viola

Sponsor: David & Julie Borsani

Dan Heim

Viola

Hometown: Centennial, Colorado
Favorite Pops Concert: Tribute to John Williams
Favorite Thing to do in Cleveland: Ride the Rails with my son Ben in Cuyahoga Valley National Park!

My youth orchestra in Denver -- the Denver Young Artists Orchestra -- was founded by Carl Topilow!

Fun Fact

Mark Heinzen

Viola

Ann Smith

Viola

Laura Kuennen-Poper

Viola

Hometown: Since 1998 Oberlin, but originally from near Chicago

Favorite Pops Concert: 2014 Mambo Kings, 2023 Beatles

Favorite thing to do in Cleveland: Shop at the Westside Market

I performed on hundreds of soundtracks of major Hollywood films in the 80’s and 90’s working for composers John Williams, Jerry Goldsmith, the Newman brothers, James Horner and many others.

Fun Fact

Kent Collier

Principal Cello

Sponsor: Philip Lloyd II
Hometown: East Cleveland
Favorite Pops Concert: Military salute concerts
Favorite Thing to do: Ski, bike, canoe, eat out with friends

I started playing because my parents watched the Lawrence Welk Show and their cellist always seemed to be smiling. At a six year old that was my main concern so I asked for a cello for my seventh birthday.

Fun Fact

Gayle Klaber

Cello

Sponsor: Ann Marie Hawkins & David Hodgson

Linda Atherton

Cello

Julie Myers King

Cello

Hometown: W. Lafayette, IN

Favorite Pops Concert: I always love the New Year's Eve concerts!

Favorite Thing to do in Cleveland: Visit the Nature Center at Shaker Lakes as well as the Cleveland Lakefront Nature Preserve.

I wrote a letter to Jimmy Carter when I was in 4th grade and was subsequently invited to his inauguration! I went!

Fun Fact

Nataliya Pshenychna

Cello

Hometown: Kyiv, Ukraine

Favorite Pops Concert: Playing New Year's with Cleveland Pops is my favorite and it has been my new tradition of celebrating New Year's since away from home.

I once performed for King Charles during his visit in Kyiv, Ukraine - it was very exciting!

Fun Fact

Eleanora Willauer

Cello

Hometown: Hope, Maine

Favorite Pops Concert: Broadway Rocks

Favorite Things to do in Cleveland: Hiking and biking in the Metroparks, and eating scones at On the Rise

I grew up sailing in Maine and recently discovered the amazing racing community on Lake Erie!

Fun Fact

Nicole Castleberry Clouser

Principal Bass

Sponsor: Tricia Gardner & Beverly Tatalick

Hometown: Paradise Valley, AZ

Favorite Pops Concert: All of them. I love how the Pops provides a wide range of musical genres and they are always engaging. The most moving moment ever was after 9/11, at the end of the concert, every audience member stood and sang “God Bless America” as we played. That was probably my most memorable moment ever as a musician because of the connection between the audience and the musicians as well as current events and it’s relevancy in the concert hall.

Favorite Thing to do in Cleveland: Walk the metroparks! They are incredible.

I am an archer.

Fun Fact

Ann Gilbert

Hometown: Lakewood, OH
Favorite Pops Concert: When we played "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" and I had to act as though I'd been hit by a baseball thrown by Carl. I screamed and fell off my stool.
Favorite Thing to do in Cleveland: Skiing at Boston Mills in the winter and walking by Lake Erie in the summer.

I am a DAR, Daughter of the American Revolution. My ancestor, Sampson Matthews, rode with Washington at the Battle of Yorktown

Fun Fact

Tim Powell

String and Electric Bass

Sponsor: Olympus Wealth Partners

Hometown: Newton Falls, Ohio (Braceville Township to be specific)

Favorite Pops Concert: I like all the Pops concerts. It’s a privilege performing with such a great group.

Favorite Thing to do in Cleveland: Go to an Indians game.

I am an avid fisherman, particularly for smallmouth bass.

Fun Fact

Meet the Musicians

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