Heartland Symphony Orchestra is a 50-piece volunteer, nonprofit, community orchestra located in and serving the central Minnesota area of Brainerd, Little Falls, and the surrounding rural communities. Musicians, from amateurs to professionals, come together once a week from all over the region to rehearse and perform three full-length orchestral music concerts each season in both Little Falls and Brainerd.
Special guest artists and conductors, local soloists and ensembles, area youth concerto winners, and charming repertoire commentary all help to make each concert unique and entertaining. The HSO also contributes its service to communities through music education programs, special events, and ticket give-aways. For more information, to receive a free HSO season brochure of upcoming concerts, to order your tickets, or to get involved either as a player or HSO sponsor, please email [email protected] or call the HSO at 1-800-826-1997.
Music Director
Ryan Webber became Music Director of the Heartland Symphony in 2019. With programming ranging from classical masterworks to more popular selections, he has also given Minnesota and world premiere performances of music by Robin Butler, Quinn Mason, Jacob Shay, Allan Stephenson, and Lindsey Wiehl. During his tenure, Ryan has had the pleasure of working with Dr. Hilary Leonard (clarinet), Dr. Nathan Herfindahl (baritone); future soloists include Dr. Stephen Carlson (piano). Additionally, Ryan has had the pleasure of inviting multiple members of HSO to serve as featured soloists.
A passionate educator, Ryan looks forward to his annual collaborations with St. Francis Music Center and Brainerd High Orchestras; future collaborations include a concert with Legacy Youth Chorale in December 2024. Outside of Minnesota, Ryan has worked with Lawrence Youth Symphony, Youth Orchestras of Kansas City, La Primavera Youth Orchestra, and Community Youth Orchestra of Southern California.
In 2021, Ryan was invited to guest conduct Sinfonietta Memphis, one of the country’s leading period performance practice ensembles, and returned to work with the group in August 2024. Outside of his work with orchestras, Ryan has served on the faculty of Bemidji State University since 2017, where he directs the Symphonic Band, Pep Band, and teaches courses related to low brass. From June to July he conducts the Bemidji Area Community Band.
In addition to his work with orchestras and bands, Ryan has served as Music Director for Northern Light Opera Company in Park Rapids since 2017. Shows he has conducted include South Pacific, My Fair Lady, The Drowsy Chaperone, Pippin, Hello, Dolly!, Little Shop of Horrors, Chicago, The Old Maid and the Thief, A Hand of Bridge, The Telephone, and Gallantry.
When Ryan isn’t performing, he enjoys sharing his passion for music with students of all ages. He has given pre-concert lectures for the Minnesota and Indianapolis Symphony Orchestras and has written program notes for ensembles of all sizes, including releases for Naxos. Since January 2023, he has written album reviews and conducted interviews for Film Score Monthly, one of the leading journals in film music.
Conducting studies have been completed with Dr. Mathias Elmer, Dr. Paul Popiel, and Dr. Kevin Sütterlin. Outside of music, he enjoys training for half marathons on the beautiful trails by Lake Bemidji, trying new restaurants, and spending time with his wife Miriam and dog Chewie.
Concert Master
Heartland Symphony Orchestra’s Concertmaster is Leslie Zander. She has taught Orchestra in the Brainerd Public Schools since 2000. Ms. Zander’s current position is teaching 6th, 7th, and 8th grade Orchestras at Forestview Middle School as well as Sinfonia Orchestra and Chamber Orchestra at Brainerd High School.
Besides her work with the Heartland Symphony Orchestra, Ms. Zander has performed throughout central Minnesota with groups such as the St. Cloud Symphony Orchestra, Great River Strings Ensemble, the Legacy Chorale, and the Long Prairie Chamber Orchestra. Past summer engagements include the Sierra Summer Festival in Mammoth Lakes, CA, the Lake Chelan Bach Fest in Chelan, WA, and the Lakes Area Music Festival.
Ms. Zander began her violin lessons at the age of three at the Aber Suzuki Center at the University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point, where her teacher was Patricia D’Ercole. She studied with Mark Bjork at the University of Minnesota – Twin Cities, earning a Bachelor of Music in Instrumental and Classroom Music Education. Ms. Zander also holds a Master of Arts in Differentiated Instruction from Concordia University – St. Paul.
Assistant Conductor
Christopher Fogderud is currently in his 15th year as Director of Bands at Brainerd High School. His responsibilities include teaching the BHS Wind Symphony, Christopher Fogderud is currently in his 17th year as Director of Bands at Brainerd High School. His responsibilities include teaching the BHS Wind Symphony, Concert Band, Jazz Ensembles and AP Music Theory as well as the BHS Marching Band and Pep Bands. He received his B.A in Music Education from Gustavus Adolphus College and his Masters of Music with a concentration in conducting from The American Band College of Sam Houston State University. He has served as clinician and guest conductor for MSHSL music contests and MBDA honor bands. Mr. Fogderud holds memberships in NAfME, MMEA, MBDA, Phi Beta Mu and has served on the College Board’s Instructional Design Team in AP Music Theory.
As a performer, Mr. Fogderud is an active musician in the community. He is assistant conductor and principal trumpet of the Heartland Symphony Orchestra and has also performed frequently with the Lakes Area Music Festival. He is the lead trumpet, composer and arranger for the Rusty Crayfish Brass Band whose debut album “Anywhere But Here” has received wide airplay on KAXE out of Grand Rapids and can be heard on all of the streaming platforms. He also plays piano in the Brainerd based jazz combo, The Jazz Authority.
Apart from teaching and performing, Mr. Fogderud is an amazingly average woodworker, golfer and camper. He lives in Brainerd with his wife Sarah. They have two children: Harrison, a first grader at Lowell Elementary School; and Grace, a proud member of the Dazzling Dinosaurs pre-school room.
Orchestra Personnel
Click to view a listing of the Heartland Symphony Orchestra Personnel (pdf).
Board of Directors
Jim Wafler – President
Tristen Heller – Vice President/President Elect
Peter Vogel – Secretary
Tom Kotval – Treasurer
Lina Belar
Katie Brimhall
Kyle Brown
Mary Clement
Dean Fitch
Susan Kavanaugh
Michelle Sakry-Winkelman
Melissa von Itter
Pam Wible
Staff
Navasha Kieffer – Operations Director
Fran Dosh – Orchestra Manager
Alicia Cebulla – Music Librarian
Please email [email protected] to contact any HSO board or staff member.