DONATE NOW

About the Minneapolis Pops Orchestra

About the Minneapolis Pops Orchestra

The Minneapolis Pops Orchestra Association

Mission: To bring the power and pleasure of live orchestra concerts, performed by professional musicians to the Twin Cities community, free of charge.

Concert traditions at Lake Harriet began in 1888. In 1950, the newly formed Minneapolis Pops Orchestra performed its first concerts, and since then has been a regular summer feature at Lake Harriet Park.

Originally sponsored by the Minneapolis Parks and Recreation Board, the independent Minneapolis Pops Orchestra Association was established in 2001. As a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, it continues its in-kind relationship with the parks, with concert dates and venues part of summer arts offerings found in our parks. This, as well as the generous year-round support of sponsors and donors, fuels and ensures that each concert season is mutually successful.

Each summer, more than 25,000 concertgoers come together to enjoy our free live performances in an open-air setting. 

We are proud to offer barrier-free concerts that remove socio-economic and accessibility limitations, ensuring everyone can participate.

With beautiful music, welcoming public venues, and enthusiastic audiences, these concerts have become a cherished summer tradition in our community.

To learn more, former Minneapolis Pops Orchestra Association president and longtime flutist with the Orchestra, Cynthia Stokes, has written an informative history of your favorite Lake Harriet tradition. We are happy to offer this to the public for sale at our concerts.

Russell Gray

Russell Gray is an internationally respected conductor whose career bridges the orchestral and brass band traditions. He serves as Music Director of the Minneapolis Pops Orchestra and Fodens Brass Band, providing artistic leadership marked by clarity, energy, and a deep commitment to musical excellence.

As an orchestral conductor, Gray is known for dynamic and engaging performances across classical, contemporary, and popular repertoire. His work with the Minneapolis Pops Orchestra reflects a strong focus on audience connection, innovative programming, and high-caliber musicianship, particularly in large-scale outdoor and community-centered concerts.

Equally distinguished as a brass band conductor, Gray has been a leading figure in the international brass band movement for decades. His leadership of Fodens Brass Band emphasizes expressive depth, technical precision, and respect for the ensemble’s rich heritage while continually advancing its artistic profile.

Gray is a Yamaha Performing Artist and Clinician and is widely sought after as an international adjudicator. He has served on juries for major competitions and festivals worldwide, including the World Music Festival in Kerkrade, and national brass band championships in Switzerland, the Netherlands, France, North America, Australia, and New Zealand.

In recognition of his exceptional contributions to the brass band movement, Gray was awarded the Illes Medal by the Worshipful Company of Musicians of London.

Through his conducting, teaching, and adjudication, Russell Gray continues to champion artistic excellence, inspire musicians at all levels, and strengthen the global brass band and orchestral communities.

Meet Our Musicians

The Minneapolis Pops Orchestra is comprised of 45 professional musicians who rank among the finest freelance artists
and full-time performers in the region. Our exceptionally qualified musicians are the heart and soul of the Orchestra, and each is a member in good standing with the Twin Cities Musicians Union, Local 30–73, of the American Federation of Musicians.

Our members also perform with some of the Twin Cities’ most esteemed orchestral ensembles, including the Minnesota
Orchestra, the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, and the Minnesota Opera orchestra.

Beyond the orchestra stage, several of our members are active as Broadway, theater, and studio musicians, jazz specialists, or are members of professional chamber music ensembles. Many also teach, whether privately, in K–12 schools, or higher
education institutions, while others contribute their expertise to larger arts initiatives.

VIOLIN I

Julian Maddox
Julia Persitz
Conor O’Brien
Huldah Niles
Emily Saathoff
Zach Saathoff

VIOLIN II

Karl Braaten
Erika Hoogeveen
Rômulo Sprung
Lorie Hippen Enblom
Theresa Elliot

VIOLA

Coca Bochonko
Matthew Mindeman
Stella Anderson
Valerie Little

CELLO

Joshua Koestenbaum
Lucia Magney
Adrianna O’Brien
Rebeccah Parker Downs

Double Bass

Charles Block
John Michael Smith
Irving Steinberg

FLUTE

Karen Baumgartner
Erica Bennett Duggan

OBOE

Merilee Klemp
Dana Maeda

CLARINET

Shelley Hanson
Karl Diekman

BASSOON

Carole Mason Smith
Laurie Hatcher Merz

HORN

William Eisenberg
Katelyn Lewis
Alex Henton
Neal Bolter

TRUMPET

Lynn Erickson
Takako Seimiya Senn
Pamela Humphrey

TROMBONE

Larry Zimmerman
Mark Springer
John Tranter

TUBA

Jason Tanksley

TYMPANI

Robert Adney

PERCUSSION

Erik Barsness

Board of Directors

Huldah Niles

President

Artistic Director
Mill City String Quartet

Stacia Martin

Vice-President

Head of Product Education & Operations
ADP

David Niles

Treasurer

Senior Vice President and Shareholder
Avant Energy, Inc.

Bill Kotrba

Secretary

Marketing Executive and Jazz Musician

Merilee Klemp

Board Member

Associate Professor
Augsburg College

Conor O'Brien

BOARD MEMBER​

Professional Violinist & Music Contractor

Wendy Ott

BOARD MEMBER​

Retired Medicare Quality Leader

Anita Rieder

BOARD MEMBER​

Gift Planning Officer, Dunwoody College of Technology / Flutist

Cynthia Stokes

BOARD MEMBER​

Flutist, The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra (retired); Faculty, St. Olaf College (retired)

Robert Stokes

Board Member

General Counsel – North America
SICK Sensor Intelligence

Staff & Management

Mark Springer

Executive Director

Conor O'Brien

Personnel Manager

Mike Peiffer

Operation Manager

Emily Saathoff

Librarian

Partners & Community Outreach

The Minneapolis Pops Orchestra has a long tradition of engagement with greater Twin Cities communities, including collaborations with other arts organizations and practitioners, outreach to underserved communities, and music education.

Artistic Collaborators

Chanhassen Dinner Theatre
Gilbert and Sullivan Very Light Opera Company
MacPhail Center for Music
O’Shea Irish Dance
The Wild Colonial Bhoys

Artistic & Operations Partners

Augsburg University
Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board

Twin Cities Musicians Union, Local 30-73 to Artistic & Operations Partners list.

Community Outreach Upcoming

America250 “Pop Up Pops” Chamber Music Series

Paused outreach programs- Free Concerts for Seniors

This program saw the Pops presenting Free Concerts for Seniors at the historic Nicollet Island Pavilion. The value of this project was clearly illustrated by the fact that the 350 reservations available for each Nicollet Island concert were taken months before the concerts began, with an additional 150 walk-in patrons routinely filling the venue to capacity for each concert. This program was paused during the COVID pandemic, and we hope to revive this cherished program once additional funding becomes available.

Legacy programs

Highlights from achievements of the Pops over the years.

Kids Play

The Pops first hosted a Kids Play concert in 1999, and the concerts grew in quality and popularity. Since its inception, over 500 students performed on stage with the Orchestra through the Kids Play program. Kids Play offered area high school students the opportunity to play an eclectic mix of fun and exciting symphonic masterworks and pops repertoire. Kids Play concerts were an annual favorite with our audiences, too, and among the best-attended concerts of the season. The Pops enjoyed this collaboration in the past, and we hope to bring it back again in the future.

New Orchestral Repertoire Project

The New Orchestral Repertoire Project (NORP) was a composition contest seeking to identify new orchestral works that had been previously performed, were worthy additions to the standard repertoire, but had not yet received many performances. Begun in 2009, entries were received from composers across the globe, three winning compositions selected during the competition’s run: Sparkler by Tom Cipullo in 2009, Push by Rob Smith in 2011, and Meteora by Mark Edwards Wilson in 2013.

Videos and Social Media

Stay Connected!

Watch the latest videos, follow us across social media, and keep up with what’s happening.

Huldah Niles

Huldah Niles is a professional violinist with more than 20 years of performance experience and a proven record of leadership in nonprofit organizations. She served on the Vestry of St. David’s Episcopal Church in Minnetonka from 2018–2022, where she was elected Vice-Chair and later Chair, helping oversee an annual budget exceeding $400,000.

Huldah is a founding member and the Artistic Director of the internationally prize-winning Mill City String Quartet established in 2007. She began performing regularly with the Minneapolis Pops Orchestra in 2018, deepening her commitment to the organization’s artistic and community mission.

Huldah joined the Minneapolis Pops Orchestra Association Board of Directors in 2021 and was elected President in 2024. Under her leadership, the organization has strengthened its long-term sustainability through enhanced donor stewardship and strategic financial planning, most notably through the successful establishment of the Minneapolis Pops Orchestra Endowment through Thrivent Charitable.

Stacia Martin

Stacia Martin currently serves as the Secretary and Board Member for the Minneapolis Pops Orchestra Association while also holding the position of Head of Product Education & Product Operations at StandOut by ADP since December 2017. In this role, Stacia has led innovative initiatives in product operations and education, achieving accolades for effective go-to-market processes and educational resources. Previous roles include Manager of Product Operations at ADP, where Stacia implemented new methodologies, and Senior Solutions Architect at Avature, providing consulting for software implementations.

Stacia also has experience as North America Central Sourcing Lead at Accenture, and co-founded Midwest Lindy Fest Productions, promoting jazz music and dance culture. Additionally, Stacia has over 20 years of experience as a Dance Instructor at Uptown Swing. Stacia pursued classical music performance studies at the University of South Florida.

David Niles

David Niles is Senior Vice President at Avant Energy, Inc., a Minneapolis-based energy management services and consulting firm. His experience includes assisting government entities, Native American Tribes, and colleges and universities with a variety of electric power supply, financial and rates, and policy issues. Mr. Niles has an undergraduate degree in Economics from Carleton College as well as an MBA with an emphasis in finance from the Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota.

Mr. Niles has previously served on the board and as Treasurer of Cantus, a vocal music ensemble. He has also served as Senior and Junior Warden and on the Vestry of St. David’s Episcopal Church in Minnetonka. He is currently the Treasurer of St. David’s.

Mr. Niles is married to Huldah Niles, a violinist in the Pops orchestra. They have one daughter.

Bill Kotrba

Bill Kotrba is an Associate Partner are Kaizen Analytix LLC, a leading provider of technology, AI, and data analytics services.

Prior to joining Kaizen, Kotrba served as Vice President, Marketing Optimization at C.H. Robinson, and has also held VP roles in Finance, Pricing and Analytics for Regis Corporation, a multi-unit retailer, and Blue Yonder, a software and consulting provider to numerous industries. Early in his career he also held long-standing management roles at Delta Air Lines and Northwest Airlines.

Kotrba’s educational background includes an MBA in Marketing and Operations Management from Cornell University. He also holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Northern Illinois University. He joined the Board of Directors for the Minneapolis Pops Orchestra in 2024 and is currently serving as Board secretary.

Merilee Klemp

Merilee Klemp has served on the Board of Directors for the Minneapolis Pops Orchestra since 2025. She served on the Board of Directors of the Lutheran Summer Music Program from 2005-2015, where she was a faculty artist from 1984-1992.

Ms. Klemp was a Professor of Music at Augsburg University and chaired the Music Department as well as serving as the Fine Arts Division Chair. Ms. Klemp is a Senior Lecturer in Oboe at Carleton College. She has earned degrees from Augsburg College, the University of Minnesota, and holds the Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the Eastman School of Music.

She is a well-known recitalist, chamber musician and teacher in the Twin Cities. Notable accomplishments include an impressive list of recordings including The Lyrical Pickpocket: the chamber music of Eric Stokes (Innova 962), Falls Flyer: Music for Oboe and Guitar (Schubert Club), Carols and Lullabies (RCA) and The Music of William Grant Still (Collins Classics) with Plymouth Music Series of Minnesota, The Three Hermits (D’Note) and A Chamber Fantasy (Innova 539) by Stephen Paulus, Singing Wilderness: Music of Cary John Franklin (Singing Wilderness), Fritz Bergmann’s Minnesota Landscapes (Innova), as well as CD’s by Janet Jackson, Elton John, Mariah Carey, and on the series of Lifescapes recordings distributed throughout the country. She was featured soloist with the Minnesota Bach Ensemble in 2024 and has performed with national tours of musicals including Miss Saigon, Phantom of the Opera, Beauty and the Beast, Aida, and The Little Mermaid.

Conor O’Brien

Conor O’Brien has played with the Minneapolis Pops Orchestra for 20 seasons and became a member of the Board of Directors in 2024. He is also the orchestra’s Personnel Manager, a role he began in 2023.

Since moving to Minnesota from his native Ireland, Conor has built an eclectic professional portfolio that covers almost every facet of the music business. His entrepreneurial spirit complements his work as performer and teacher; he is artistic director of the Loring String Quartet, and music contractor/consultant for many local and national music organizations.

As a modern violinist, he was a member of the Minnesota Opera Orchestra for 18 years, has performed with the Minnesota Orchestra and St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, and has concertized on three continents, including a tour of South Korea with the World Symphony Orchestra. He has worked with artists in many diverse genres, including recording with Taylor Swift and Celine Dion, and performing live with Dessa. As a baroque violinist, he has performed with the Mirandola Ensemble, Bach Society of Minnesota, Christ Church Baroque (Ireland), Lyra Baroque Orchestra, Consortium Carissimi, Elm Ensemble, and La Grande Bande, among others. Conor has been a faculty member/guest clinician at myriad schools and colleges, including Luther College, Gustavus Adolphus College, Bemidji State University, and the University of Minnesota.

Wendy Ott

For Wendy Peter Ott, the Minneapolis Pops Orchestra Association Board, and specifically fundraising, is a passion that goes back to her father’s Board membership many years ago. She has been actively involved in fundraising for most of her life, spending her earlier years as chair of large fundraisers for the American Diabetes Association. More recently, grassroots fundraisers for Nicollet Square, a housing complex for unhoused teens, have added to her experience.

A singer in the Minnetonka Choral Society, she has recently joined its Board as treasurer. She spent three years on the Westminster Presbyterian Church Deacon Board partnering with 30 Deacons to meet the needs of the church and the nonprofits it supported. Wendy is also passionate about sailboat racing at Lake Harriet and has served that Board as Secretary, Vice Commodore, and Commodore for a total of 7 years.

Anita Reider

Flutist and Gift Planning Officer Anita Rieder has enjoyed a dual career as free-lance flutist in Chicago and development officer for nonprofits in the Twin Cities. She joined the Minneapolis Pops Orchestra Association Board in 2025.

Anita earned a Doctor of Music degree in Flute Performance at Northwestern University where she studied with Walfrid Kujala. She served as first-call sub with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and freelanced with the Chicago Baroque Ensemble, Newberry Concert, Staunton Music Festival, and Haymarket Theatre. Today she performs with the Bach Society of Minnesota and Wayzata Symphony Orchestra.

Anita has raised millions of dollars for organizations such as Mayo Clinic, The Rotary Foundation, The Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, and Dunwoody College of Technology. She is honored to bring her passion for music and desire to help the Minneapolis Pops and its donor families live generously through tax-wise charitable giving.

Cynthia Stokes

Cynthia Stokes is a retired professional flutist who played with the St Paul Chamber Orchestra for over 30 years and taught flute at St Olaf College from 1968 to 2005. She became the manager and principal flutist of the Minneapolis Pops Orchestra in 1973. Her duties as manager included fund raising, hiring the musicians and planning the orchestra’s schedule. She assisted with establishing the orchestra as a non-profit corporation in 2001 and continued as the orchestra’s contractor until 2024. She served as president of the orchestra from 2004 until 2024. Cynthia wrote and published a history of the orchestra from its establishment in 1950 up to 2020.

Robert Stokes

Robert “Robby” Stokes joined the Minneapolis Pops Orchestra Association Board in 2025. He brings a wealth of experience as an accomplished legal professional.

Mr. Stokes is currently serving as General Counsel at SICK Sensor Intelligence, where he previously held positions as Deputy General Counsel and Associate General Counsel. Prior experience includes serving as Legal Counsel at Tennant Company, where he supported the Americas sales organization, Global Marketing, Intellectual Property, and Litigation Management. Earlier roles at Tennant Company included Associate Legal Counsel and Law Clerk, focusing on Global Marketing, distribution, and financial matters. Robby Stokes holds a Doctor of Law (J.D.) from the University of Minnesota Law School and a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Economics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Mark Springer

Dr. Mark Springer has been the Executive Director of the Minneapolis Pops Orchestra Association since 2025, where he is also a member of the Pops orchestra trombone section.

Retiring from a 28-year career in higher education in 2023, has gained extensive budget and fiscal management, strategic planning, grant writing and administration, personnel, fundraising, and outreach and leadership experience as the Dean for the College of Liberal Arts and School of the Arts and Professor of Music at St. Cloud State University. He also served as Associate Dean, Department of Music Chair, and member of the music faculty since 1996. Originally from Washington State, he earned undergraduate (BM, BA) and graduate degrees (MM, DMA) in music from Washington State University and the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He is also alum of Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education the Institute for Management and Leadership in Education.

He has led or contributed to several campus, community, and non-profit initiatives, including community place-making and cultural development plans, ArtWORKS initiatives, non-profit boards, and higher education initiatives. As a music faculty member and department chair, he is also experienced in developing and presenting large-scale arts productions, concert series, and touring projects.

Mark also maintains an active musical career, too, performing extensively as a solo, chamber and orchestral musician in Minnesota, throughout the Midwest, and internationally, with appearances in England, Scotland, Canada, and Mexico. He can be heard on the American Brass Quintet’s Fyre & Lightning: Consort Music of 1600 release, most Lake Wobegon Brass Band releases, as well as on his solo CD, ARIA-Music for Trombone and Organ.

Mike Peiffer

Mike Peiffer is the Operations Manager for the Minneapolis Pops Orchestra, a position he’s held since 2015. He is also the Office Administrator for Ag & Business Legal Strategies in Hiawatha, Iowa, where he is responsible for coordinating the firm’s support systems, including accounts receivable and payable, building maintenance, and supplies requisition. He also serves as a paralegal and legal assistant.

Mike holds undergraduate English and Music degrees from the College of St Benedict and St John’s University as well as a Master of Music degree in viola performance from the University of Missouri-Columbia.

Emily Saathoff

Emily Saathoff has held the position of music librarian for the Minneapolis Pops Orchestra since 2022. In her role, she enjoys the responsibility of music organization and distribution. In addition to her work as librarian, Emily is a member of the Pops violin section and an avid freelancer in the Twin Cities.