Jennifer Kelley
President
Jennifer Kelley earned her Bachelors of Science in Music Education at Weber State
University where she taught in the national program String Project. She then pursued a
career as an orchestra teacher for Alpine School District, where she has fostered thriving
orchestra programs for ten wonderful years at Lehi Junior High, Lehi High School, and Skyridge
High School. She is the currently serving as the president and co-conductor of the EMSO and has
been serving the community with the symphony since its founding in the Fall of 2017 by Angelina
Arnold and Kayla Young. Jennifer has performed with Jenny Oaks Baker on several occasions, and
has also had the opportunity to work with Kurt Bestor while teaching at Skyridge High School.
Jenn currently resides in Eagle Mountain City Center with her husband Kevin, who patiently
supports her in all she does, and her two beautiful children.
Rebecca Pehrson
Vice President
Rebecca Jensen
Treasurer
Rebecca Jensen is a native of Henderson, Nevada & graduated with a Bachelor’s of
Science in Music Education from Southern Utah University where she studied Bassoon. She has
performed with the Orchestra of Southern Utah & the Southwest Symphony in Dixie. She spent 2
years teaching band at Findlay Middle School in North Las Vegas, Nevada before moving to Utah.
Her husband and 4 children have been living in Eagle Mountain for the past 10 years where she
continues to teach wind instrument & piano lessons out of her home & enjoys volunteering in her
community. She currently works in Finance and Retirement Services where she owns her own
Business. In addition to co-conducting the Eagle Mountain Symphony Orchestra, she sits on the
board as Treasurer and is entering her 3rd season performing with the EMSO. Her husband is a
Major in the U.S. Army Reserve & has served for 18 years which includes a deployment to
Kandahar, Afghanistan. We Salute him & all our Veterans and their families for their service and
sacrifice to our great Nation!
Julie Schmidt
Board Member
Julie Schmidt has been interested in music from a young age starting with piano.
She then moved her sights to violins when she saw how beautiful they look and sound. She studied
music at Utah State University and played in the Symphony Orchestra under the direction of the
Arcata string quartet. She also enjoyed playing in the multi cultural messiah concerts and the
combined Institute choir and Orchestra in Logan. She moved to Eagle mountain and then joined the
Eagle Mountain Symphony In 2018. She enjoys spending her time with her husband and 3 kids. She
is acting Librarian for EMSO.
Andrea Jones
Board Member
Andrea Jones earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Electronic Music Technology,
Composition, and Performance (Clarinet) from The University of Redlands, CA. She has worked in
musical theater at PCPA Theaterfest in Santa Maria, CA as sound designer and engineer for such
shows as The Who’s “Tommy”, “Les Miserables”, and “The Sound of Music”. She then got her
teacher’s credential from Chapman University and taught in the school districts of Lompoc, CA
and Alpine School District, UT directing strings, choir, band, and guitar. She is married to
Lawrence and they have 4 wonderful children. She enjoys volunteering at the Becky Painter Farm
and Eagle Mountain Farmer’s Market. She loves to sing in choirs and she teaches music (currently
cello, piano, and clarinet). She also does a soft tissue therapy from Australia called Bowenwork
designed to reset the nervous system and “re-tune” the body. She sits on the board as Secretary
and has played clarinet in the EMSO since moving here in April 2019.
Andrea Butler
Board Member
Andrea Butler earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Clarinet Performance from BYU.
While there, she performed as Principal Clarinetist in the BYU Philharmonic Orchestra
(2003-2005), Chamber Orchestra (2003-2004), and Wind Symphony (2002-2003). She toured as
Principal Clarinetist with the BYU Chamber Orchestra to Europe (she visited countries such as
Germany, Czech Republic, Greece, Hungary, to name a few). She served as the BYU Marching Band
Section leader in 2003. She won 3rd place in the Utah State Fair Music Competition in 2003, and
honorable mention in 2004. Her love of music really started in junior high when her band was
invited to play at the Mid-West Band Clinic, there she performed as Principal Clarinetist for
her band. She performed as Principal Clarinetist in both high school and collegiate All-State
Bands. Her love for clarinet increased in high school where she served as drum major. It was
then she started studying with U of U Clarinet Professor Kathy Pope, and later BYU Professor
Bill Holeman, and finally BYU Professor Jaren Hinckley. She started teaching private clarinet
lessons for the Crescent School of Music during college and then on her own for the last 19
years. She enjoys playing in community symphonies and as enjoyed performing with the Murray
Symphony, Utah Valley Symphony, Utah Philharmonic Orchestra, and now the Eagle Mountain Symphony
Orchestra. She currently lives in Eagle Mountain with her husband and 5 kids.
Brendon Chrisney
Board Member
Brendon Chrisney, a native of Corona California, earned his Bachelor's Degree in
Spanish Translation from Brigham Young University, with a minor in music. He began playing
clarinet at the age of 9 and continued while studying under Dr. David Lopez at age 14. He later
studied with Margaret Worsely at Riverside City College. It was there that he co-founded The
Empyre Trio, a chamber music ensemble based out of Riverside CA. He has performed with the
Riverside City College Symphony, The La Sierra University Orchestra, The BYU University
Orchestra, The Utah Valley Symphony, and the Eagle Mountain Symphony Orchestra since the
inaugural season in 2017. He currently sits on the board of the EMSO as Musical Specialist and
currently resides in Eagle Mountain with his wife and two daughters.
Don Sherwood
Sponsorships/Website
Don Sherwood's life-long love of orchestral music began as a member of the
Colorado Springs Youth Symphony. He began his studies in music education at Brigham Young
University with an emphasis on Cello performance, but later changed directions to pursue his
other love - Computer Science. He has since enjoyed a very successful career in Software
Engineering, but has continued throughout his life to be involved in the performing arts,
playing in such groups as the Loveland Chamber Orchestra, Loveland Community Theater, the
Genesee Valley Orchestra and Chorus, the Timpanogos Symphony Orchestra, and the Eagle Mountain
Symphony Orchestra. Don has published a number of original compositions and arrangements (mostly
sacred works), has directed several musical groups over the years, and now offers private cello
instruction in his home in the evenings. He and his wife, Tami live in the Ranches, and are the
parents of 8 children, with their first grandchild expected to arrive in the spring of 2020.