Kate Anderson |
 | Kate started clarinet in fifth grade and played in band through high school and college. In college. Kate played clarinet in concert band, marching/pep band, orchestra, and also played saxophone in Jazz band. Approximately ten years after college, a co-worker invited Kate to play in the Robbinsdale band. After a number of years, Kate started playing primarily bassoon. Kate presently plays in several concert band and groups, splitting between bass clarinet and bassoon, with occasional regular Bb clarinet. |
Edrie Kioski |
 | Edrie learned to read music in 4th grade playing the violin, then played the accordion for several years. She then took a long break from music until learning to play the guitar in her fifties. When arthritis stopped that, she took up the Bb clarinet at the age of 60, and has not looked back since. She plays in the Fridley City Band, the Fridley City Old Time Band, and the Synod Senior Band as well. She is also the webmaster for fridleycityband.org and licoricestix.org. She has a somewhat "checkered past" in employment, having been a physics major at USC (BS, MS) and working at Pt. Mugu, CA at the NAS, then working as an actuarial trainee (Peat Marwick) and valuation supervisor (Dan MCGinn & Assoc) before returning to school in the neurosciences program at UCLA then medical school at UC Irvine. She is currently happily retired, married to Greg for 40 years, with 6 children and 9 grandchildren between us. |
Alan Lapinsky |
 | Al began playing clarinet in elementary school and continued thru high school in St. Paul. He later took up the saxophone during college years. Al graduated from the University of Minnesota with a B.S. degree in Secondary Education but instead pursued a career in sales. After retirement and a break of 45 years away from his instruments a chance conversation with a community band member convinced Al to start practicing again and join a band. In addition to Licorice Stix, Al is also a member of the Richfield Symphonic Band and the Northern Winds Concert Band. Other activities Al enjoys include volunteering at Fairview Southdale Hospital, playing pickle ball and going to estate sales.
Al has been married to Ruthanne for 40 plus years, with 2 children and 4 grandchildren. Spending time with family is a major source of enjoyment for Al and Ruthanne.
|
Donald Larson |
 | Don Larson started playing clarinet at age 10, at Banfield Elementary School in Austin, MN. A 1965 member of the Minnesota All State Band, he has played with The Brooklyn Community Band since 1978 and the Richfield Symphonic Band since 1981. More recently, since becoming semi retired, he has joined the Synod Senior Band and now leads the Licorice Stix Clarinet Choir. Don was self employed, with his wife LeAnn, in a stained glass crafts business called "Pane In The Glass". They manufactured stained glass sun catchers and gift-ware that was marketed at Arts and Crafts Fairs as well as the Minnesota State Fair. He retired from the US Postal Service, after an eight year stint, in 2014. |
Susan Lindstrom |
 | Susan began playing clarinet in sixth grade in the Osseo School District and played through high school. After a twelve year break, she joined the Brooklyn Community Band which was led by her former high school director. After raising three children and reaching retirement age, she has had the time to join two other groups; the Licorice Stix and the Synod Senior Band. Interests include gardening, quilting, reading and traveling but music is what gives her the most satisfaction. |
Norma Marien |
 | Norma’s first instrument through high school was the piano. She moved to woodwinds after college, playing recorder in an early music ensemble for a number of years, but the limited repertoire led her to pick up the clarinet at age 50. She currently is a member of the Minnesota Valley Community Band, the Synod Senior Band, the Westwood Wind Ensemble, and now the Licorice Stix, where she enjoys playing a wide range of music from classical to ragtime to jazz and show tunes. |
Linda McHenry |
 | Linda began playing clarinet in 6th grade and continued to play through high school. After that, she took a 30-year break from playing an instrument. During that time she graduated from Penn State University with a B.S. in Mathematics and raised seven children. She now has time to play her clarinet in several community bands and loves being back to making music. The Licorice Stix is one of her most enjoyable groups because of the variety of fun music that is played and because it is a small group of only clarinets. In addition to music, her interests include reading, counted cross-stitch, knitting, crocheting and quilting, but by far, her favorite activities are being a grandma and spending time with her family. |
Randy Olson |
 | Randy was born into a musical family. His father was a music educator, his brother and sister played the trumpet. At age 10, he joined the family band as the one-and-only woodwind player. He's been struggling to learn the clarinet ever since. As a member of the Richfield Symphonic Band and the Plymouth Concert Band, Randy enjoys the big sound of a full band experience. And with the Licorice Stix, the variety of musical styles and close interaction of a small group is a special musical treat. |
Bob Thomasson |
 | I grew up in south Mpls.---attended South H.S.&
U. of Mn.I'm now a retired family practice MD. I
also play sax & clarinet in 3 other bands.
|
