Brian Hadley

Brian serves as the Music Librarian where he serves on the MPO’s Programming Committee, communicates with music publishers to rent or purchase performance pieces, manages the music library, distributes and collects the music to and from the musicians, and communicates issues relating to the Music Library with the Music Director and Board of Directors.

Brian Hadley joined the MPO in 1998 as second bassoon and has been principal bassoon since 2000. He has served on the Board of Directors from 2003 to 2011 in many different roles including personnel manager, ensemble coordinator, Vice President and President. In addition to the MPO, Brian plays with other local community music groups including Kenwood Symphony Orchestra and the Praise Team at All Gods’ Children Metropolitan Church in Minneapolis.

Brian has taught music, band and orchestra in the Minneapolis Public School district since 1997 and currently teaches band at Pillsbury Elementary and Olson Middle School. Brian has also been performing, teaching or judging in the marching band/drum corps/color guard activity for almost 30 years. Brian currently judges for the North Star Color Guard Circuit and has served as Chief Judge for the NSC from 2005 – 2011 and served on the board of directors from 2000 – 2011.

Brian lives in Richfield with his husband Matt and two cats Roger and Stewie.

Joe Dolson

Joe is the former concertmaster of the MPO, and has been playing with the orchestra since the fall of 2000. In addition to the MPO, Joe plays in a duo with stand partner Catherine Himmerich and plays baroque violin in the baroque ensemble, “Sospiri.”

Professionally, Joe helps organizations make their websites usable by people with disabilities. He’s a core developer for the open source content management system WordPress, and works to promote accessible site building and design using WordPress. He teaches a course at Lynda.com on Accessibility for WordPress and works with the WordPress Accessibility team to help make WordPress and WordPress.org resources more accessible.

Joe has been working in marketing and web development since 2001, providing web consulting and development services to clients in the U.S. and in Europe. Joe writes and speaks regularly on important topics in accessible web development and web standards. Keep up with Joe at Joe Dolson Accessible Web Design or follow Joe on Twitter.