M Brooks is a folk singer/songwriter based out of west Michigan. Inspired by literature and time spent outdoors, his songs explore themes of hope and resurrection. His first album, Wild Shores, debuted in 2016, and his upcoming album, Art from Darkness, is set to release on April 2, 2021.  Larissa is an arts manager and musician, and she is also playing on a few songs in M Brooks's new album. Our live interview was held on March 27th 2021. Be sure to stream M Brooks's new album! This is Episode 3 of Season 2 of my podcast: https://anchor.fm/larissa-fall

Brynne Anika is a content creator and artist with a background in dance and theater. Check out her website, shop, and blog here https://www.brynneanika.net/ and her instagram account here @brynneanika

Ivan Labra, a native-born Grand Rapidian, is a current Digital Entrepreneur running a startup media business: Labratory Media. Ivan currently attends college at Grand Rapids Community College and is finishing his degree in business administration. Ivan was a former intern for the Grand Rapids Symphony under the operation/production team and a former Mosaic Scholar within the symphony's Gateway To Music Programs.

Larissa is an arts manager and musician.

Chicago born and raised singer-songwriter, Bre Harris currently serves as Worship Leader and Choir Director at Central Wesleyan Church in Holland, MI. She graduated with a B.A in Worship Arts from Cornerstone University. Passionate about diverse expressions of worship, she has collaborated with many artists such as Porters Gate, Matt Boswell, and Water’s Edge Worship to cultivate worship cultures that magnify unity in the body of Christ.

Carlos has been a stagehand in West Michigan for the past 26 years working with every arts organization in one form or another. He is currently a house person at the Van Andel arena. He is also a card holding member of IATSE local 26 and has been for over 20 years.

Julie has spent her career working in many different facets of arts management, but is currently enjoying her role as part of the Grand Rapids Symphony’s production team, where her focus is on everything that goes into putting a concert together behind the scenes.
She earned a Master’s in Non-profit Management and undergraduate degrees in Music Performance and Organizational Communication. She is also a doting mom to her two rescue dogs, Finn and Charlie.

Kyle Viana has been the Production Stage Manager for the Grand Rapids Symphony since 2013. His lifelong passion for music lead him to attend Ferris State University, where he graduated in 2011 with a B.S. in Music Industry Management and a minor in Special Event and Meeting Planning.  His love for music started early on. He got his first real guitar as a Christmas gift from his grandparents when he was 6 years old and went from taking lessons, to entering school talent shows, to playing in bands and making albums of his own. Most recently he's developed an interest in recording and mixing.   He also has a life-long love of fishing. When not at work in the concert hall, or playing his guitar, you can usually find Kyle on a river somewhere trying my best to catch a fish.

Natalie Frakes is a Detroit-based violinist, teaching artist, and music educator who believes deeply in using music as a vehicle for social change. When she’s not teaching, she keeps busy performing with some of Detroit’s best musicians and has been part of live productions for current artists such as the Aretha Franklin Orchestra, Wordless Music Orchestra, Kygo, Michael Bublé, Josh Groban, and more.   Natalie is a passionate educator and has devoted her time as a teaching artist and educator in the public schools and with El Sistema-inspired programs. She currently works with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Sphinx Organization, Detroit Metropolitan Youth Symphony, University Musical Society, and Hyde Park Suzuki Institute.

Emily Smith, MEd, MT-BC, is a vocal instructor and music therapist serving the greater Grand Rapids area.  A native of Roanoke Virginia, Emily earned her degree and board certification in music therapy from Appalachian State University.  The bulk of her clinical work is in end-of-life care and she currently co-owns West Michigan Music Therapy, LLC.  Emily maintains a private studio in addition to teaching applied voice and aural comprehension at GRCC. Additionally, Emily enjoys an active performance schedule that includes collaboration in local worship spaces, music for special events, & symphonies.   Emily is also involved with community outreach through facilitating music workshops and guest lectures around west Michigan.

Corey is currently a Marketing Manager for the Grand Rapids Symphony. He specializes in content creation, social media, email and all things digital.   He currently resides in the Grand Rapids community with his wife Julie and son Harrison. Larissa is an arts manager and musician.

Ivan Akansiima is a Ugandan Jazz pianist, guitarist, composer, arranger,  music instructor and performer.

Michelle Pokley is a flutist and teacher based in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex-area. She has given international solo and orchestral performances throughout North and South America, France and Germany. Michelle has won top prizes in many competitions including the Maverick Flute Soloist Competition, the Bowling Green State University Concerto Competition, the Douglas Wayland Chamber Music Competition, among others. Michelle holds performance degrees from the Manhattan School of Music and Bowling Green State University.  Her principal teachers include Linda Chesis, Dr. Conor Nelson, Jeffery Zook, Joel Tse, and Brandy Huddelson.

Kayla Green is a violinist and arts administrator pursuing a Master’s degree in violin performance at Michigan State University. She has actively sought a broad range of experiences during her musical studies, ranging from working as an instructor at the MSU Community Music School, member of the Development department of the Grand Rapids Symphony, orchestra librarian for the MSU Orchestras, and staff member for the Meadowmount School of Music and Philadelphia International Music Festival. Kayla is passionate about using her love for music to address social injustices, and founded a nonprofit in 2019 that puts on music events to raise awareness for human trafficking. Since transitioning online in response to COVID-19, her organization’s digital performances have reached over 18,000 people with eclectic music and information about human trafficking. Her favorite performances have included those in New York City’s National Opera Center and Barco Ducale in Italy.

Amanda Ly is an Artificial Intelligence Architect living in Berlin, Germany. Ever since picking up piano and guitar at 16, she has been channeling her emotions and energy into writing honest, emotional songs in hopes of reaching others with her words and melodies. Her music is alternative pop with inspiration from Lorde, Alice Merton, James Bay, Passenger and Julia Michaels.  In 2015, Amanda spent two years in Nashville pursuing a career as a full time singer songwriter. But she defies the rules of the industry: instead of shooting for radio-friendly, her music seeks to change the world through lyrics of positive inspiration and social commentary. Her mission is to inspire and change the hearts of the world, one song at a time. Among the topics addressed in her songs are allowing passion and joy to lead one’s life despite adversity (“Set the World on Fire”) and the surprise of falling in love with someone unexpected (“Trashed My List”). Amanda draws from her life experiences and those of others to promote important messages. She is currently recording a new album to bring awareness and understanding to the stories of sexual assault victims.  www.soundcloud.com/AmandaLyMusic

Bassoonist and contrabassoonist Andrew Genemans joined the Grand Rapids Symphony in January 2018. A native of Akron, Ohio, he graduated from Carnegie Mellon University with a Master’s Degree in Music Performance as well as an Advanced Musical Studies Certificate. His undergraduate studies were at the Baldwin Wallace Conservatory of Music.  Andrew is an avid orchestral musician, performing with such renowned ensembles as The Philadelphia Orchestra, the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, and the Houston Symphony Orchestra among others. In 2012, Andrew performed with members of the Cleveland Orchestra in a live broadcast of Mozart’s Serenade No. 11.  Andrew is an active soloist on both bassoon and contrabassoon, most recently performing Vivaldi’s Concerto in E Minor for Bassoon and Orchestra with Resonance Works | Pittsburgh. In February 2014, Andrew performed the world premiere of Mark Fromm’s Lingua Cosmica for solo contrabassoon and chamber ensemble with the Carnegie Mellon Contemporary Music Ensemble under the direction of Daniel Curtis.  Andrew has spent the last three years as a prestigious Contrabassoon Fellow at the Aspen Music Festival and School, studying with Per Hannevold and Michael Sweeney. His primary bassoon teachers include Nancy Goeres, Jonathan Sherwin, and Renee Anthony Dee, plus contrabassoon studies with Jonathan Sherwin and Jim Rodgers.  In his spare time, Andrew enjoys reading, discovering new music and art, watching stand-up comedy, and writing poetry.

Amy graduated from Grand Valley State University @gvsu with a degree in accounting. She currently works as the Operations Manager for a performing arts venue in Northern Michigan. In her position at the arts center, she coordinates artist logistics as well as assists with the day-to-day financial management. She loves how her job combines her passion for the performing arts with her accounting background. Amy also plays piano and enjoys reading and traveling.

Thomas Pike lives in Grandville, MI with his wife Kara, children Elaina and Miles, and 4 cats. He is the Repair Shop Administrator for Meyer Music, the Artistic Director of the Vintage Parlor Orchestra, and an Oil Painter in his spare time. Originally from Hudsonville, Thomas earned a degree in Communication from GVSU, while his studies of classical music and painting are largely self-taught.

Jordan VanHemert began his career teaching at Hope College @hopecollege @hopecollegemusic in 2019. At Hope, he teaches courses in saxophone and jazz studies. He holds a DMA from the University of Illinois, MM from the University of Michigan, and a BME from Central Michigan University. VanHemert is the curator of a new jazz series at the Holland Area Arts Council called Jazz at the Gallery. In addition to his duties at Hope, Jordan is the Music Director of the Holland Concert Jazz Orchestra, a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization in its 2nd year of operations. In addition to his own forthcoming album, Jordan was recently the Music Director for an album with saxophonist Derek Brown.

Rachael Ridge is a private music teacher and mom. She loves to workout, be outside, and read.

Josh is a Music Director, performer, and theater instructor from Grand Rapids. Credits include Frozen Jr., All Shook Up!, Freaky Friday, among others. He loves being on stage in any performance capacity, for it has allowed him freedom of expression and so much support and friendship from those in this community. IG: @joshkellermus