Ensemble Directors

Prelude & Cadenza Music Director

Rhonda Johnson holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Music Education from St. Cloud State University. For numerous years she attended the American Suzuki Institute at the University of Wisconsin, Stevens Point earning certifications in the Suzuki Method of Talent Education. Johnson began her teaching career by heading the Elk River Area Arts Council's Strings for Youth program. Johnson has been an active member of the St. Cloud Symphony Orchestra for the past 36 years and has performed with many Central Minnesota ensembles such as the Bethlehem Chamber Orchestra, Amadeus Chamber Symphony, Willmar Area Symphonic Orchestra, Quite Light Opera Company, The St. Cloud String Quartet, and the Johnson family trio, Trio d’archi.

Johnson has also enjoyed opportunities performing outside the ‘classical’ realm on violin, viola, and cello. She was recruited to be a member of the string quartet backing up music legend Bobby Vee for the fundraiser Rockin’ Round the Clock. This led to her also performing in Bobby’s Christmas shows throughout the region, playing at Big Top Chautauqua in Washburn, Wisconsin

with Bobby and Buddy Holly’s band The Crickets, and at 50 Winters Later in Clear Lake, Iowa, in 2009 with Bobby Vee, The Crickets, and Pat DiNizio of the Smithereens. Johnson has also performed the Bridge Over Troubled Water and PetSounds albums with local band Collective Unconscious, With a Little Help from Our Friends, music of The Beetles with Revolution 5, the music of Meat Loaf with Grant Haake and the Fifth Avenue Revue. She has also performed with Anthony Shore and His All-Star Band featuring the music of Elvis.

In 2009, Johnson and her husband opened their own music store, Johnsons’ Violins, in St. Cloud to keep string playing alive in Central Minnesota. Johnson teaches in her own private studio and with the St. Cloud Suzuki Studio, and she taught in the area public and parochial schools for 32 years. She serves as conductor with the annual Mississippi String Camp and as an instructor/conductor for the Central Minnesota Youth Orchestra and previously Crow River Area Youth Orchestra.

Intermezzo Music Director

Noah Braun has a Bachelor of Arts degree from St. Cloud State University in Music Theory and Composition, where he studied cello with Hong Wang, Pablo Mahave Veglia, and Adriana Ransom and composition with Melissa Krause and Scott Miller. He earned his Master of Music degree from the University of Colorado Boulder in Composition, studying with Richard Toensing and Carter Pann. He holds a current teaching degree for K-12 Instrumental and Classroom Music in the state of Minnesota. Braun currently teaches Orchestra at North Junior High and Making Music at South Junior High in St. Cloud.

Braun serves as Principal Cello with the Amadeus Chamber Symphony and performs with the St. Cloud Symphony Orchestra, Monticello Community Strings, and with other ensembles in the Central Minnesota region. He previously served as Music Director of the Crow River Area Youth Orchestra and remains an active composer, currently composing mostly for school orchestra and community ensembles.

Encore & Artistic Director / Founder

Michael Zellgert attended University of Wisconsin-Superior where he studied violin performance and conducting, including both choral and orchestral technique with Diane Balko and David Scott. In addition, he received mentoring under Markand Thakar (Peabody Institute of The John Hopkins University) and Yong-Yan Hu (Rostock Philharmonie & Shanghai Broadcast Symphony).

Zellgert has appeared as a soloist with community and university orchestras throughout Minnesota and part of Wisconsin including Gustavus Adolphus College and University of Wisconsin - Superior. He has served as concertmaster of the Itasca Symphony Orchestra, Heartland Symphony Orchestra, and as prinicipal 2nd violin and concertmaster of the St. Cloud Symphony Orchestra along with performing as a violinist with the Minnesota Ballet, the Duluth Festival Opera, and the Lyric Opera of the North.

Throughout his career as a violinist, he has performed with small ensembles including the Dynamic String Quartet, Highland Quartet, Saint Benedicta Trio, Pastiche, and Music Saint Croix.

Michael has served as the music director of the Woodland Community Orchestra, Long Prairie Chamber Orchestra, and Crow River Area Youth Orchestra and is a guest and cover conductor with regional orchestras including the St. Cloud Symphony Orchestra, Heartland Symphony Orchestra, Buffalo Community Orchestra, and Willmar Area Symphonic Orchestra. His interest in music education has led him to conduct string sectionals for the College of St. Benedict/St John's University Orchestra, clinics for high school orchestras, and has adjudicated auditions for solo/ensembles and camps including Interlochen Camp for the Arts.

In addition to performing and conducting, Zellgert has held office on orchestra and arts boards throughout Minnesota including the Chamber Music Society of St. Cloud and the Prairie Arts Council. His background has included administrative positions like the Director of Operations & Personnel with the Duluth-Superior Symphony and Computer Systems Manager with the St. Cloud Housing & Redevelopment Authority.

Michael maintains a private studio, a member with the Duluth-Superior Symphony Orchestra, a member of the St Cloud String Quartet, the Islay Trio, and the artistic director/founder of the Central Minnesota Youth Orchestra and the Central Minnesota Community Orchestra.

Mentor - Violin

Laura Dahl has been an active violinist/violist in the region since 2000, with orchestras of the Amadeus Chamber Symphony, Buffalo Community, Central MN Community, St. Cloud Symphony, The St. John’s Boys’ Choir, and Willmar Area Symphonic.

Her freelancing includes ecumenical church services, area theatre company pit orchestras, and private events as solo or quartet. Laura graduated from St. Cloud State University in May 2016, with a Bachelor of Arts in Music. She is a substitute teacher for K-12 music/ensemble classes of the local public and parochial districts. Laura has mentored violin/viola students of the Central Minnesota Youth Orchestra since 2016.

Mentor - Viola

Sophia Kufalk has been playing viola for over 7 years in the Central MN community. Throughout the year, she regularly plays in the Amadeus Chamber Symphony and Central Minnesota Community Orchestra. During the summer, she is also involved in Mississippi String Camp and Monticello Community Orchestra.

Outside of the music realm, Sophia is currently pursuing a teaching degree at St. Cloud State University. She intends to teach social studies for grades 6-12. Besides orchestra and college, she works as a daycare aide at Playhouse Childcare Center. She looks forward to working with CMYO kids this year and is happy to encourage students to keep going with music!

Mentor - Cello

Marianne Zitzewitz has been involved in the music community for over 10 years throughout the region. She has been a member of the St. Cloud Symphony Orchestra, Amadeus Chamber Symphony, St. John's Boys' Choir Orchestra, and Bethlehem Orchestra.

In addition, Marianne has served as a mentor with youth programs including the Crow River Area Youth Orchestra and the Central MN Youth Orchestra. During her undergraduate, she had taken cello lessons with Sally Nordstrom at St. Olaf College. Since then, she had continued her studies with Tina Lamberts.