In 2008, Ron Friesen returns to our podium for his thirteenth year conducting The Nutcracker! The Everett Symphony has thoroughly enjoyed performances under his leadership, and we consider ourselves fortunate to have him as our Assistant Conductor. Mr. Friesen joined our Symphony in 1984 as Co-Principal Trumpet and has been a featured soloist in Vivaldi's Trumpet Concerto in C for Two Trumpets and Leroy Anderson's Bugler's Holiday as well as soloing in several ESO Pops Concerts. Mr. Friesen's original fanfare compositions have been featured and extremely well received at several local events.

For thirty years Mr. Friesen was a dedicated public school music educator in the Stanwood and Edmonds School Districts. He taught all grade levels from elementary to high. Mr. Friesen also serves as on-call rehearsal conductor for Tacoma Youth Symphonies, as well as for the Everett Symphony. In 1999, he conducted the All Northwest Band for Christian and Home School Groups at Seattle Pacific University. Since November 1999, he has taken the podium for all of the ESO's Explore Music! concerts. He is a valued asset to the Everett Symphony and we appreciate having him working closely with Dr. Cobbs. He definitely keeps us on our musical toes when our beloved "Head Maestro" is occasionally otherwise engaged.