Dreamsinger Horns
Vicki Alexandra
Detroit, Mi - Phone 313-922-8837
Chicago Phone# c/o 773-646-1519
saxygirl@yavawinds.com

Summary of Qualifications

Performer on Alto, Bass and Soprano Flutes; Soprano, Alto, Baritone and Tenor Saxophones; Sarrusophone and Bass Clarinets; Woodwind Restorer, Consultant and Music Teacher.

A talented professional musician, widely traveled and proficient international performer and recording session player in Jazz, Pop and Classical music.  An experienced private music instructor and music historian conducting numerous public and private workshops on historic and antique wind instruments.  A designer of wind instruments with hands-on expertise in modern and vintage instrument making, restorations, revisions and custom keywork.

Selected Accomplishments

1998- Demonstration of historic and antique wind instruments at the James Carter “At Home Conversin’ with the Youngsters” workshop.

1991- Soloist on Sarrusophone “Rhapsody Español” with the Cleveland Symphony Orchestra under the direction of  Vladimir Ashkenazi.

1986- Named curator of the Curt Guckert Instrument Collection that spans his lifetime of designing and building musical instruments. This collection is made available for musician workshops within universities.

1986- Memorial recording for Ruhi Su in Cologne, Germany.

1986- Frankfort, Germany- Frankfort Institute, NAMM trade show.  Presented trombone slide design and won the NAMM award for best trombone design.

1980- Design of saxophone mouthpieces and necks, woodwind acoustical research and design of
woodwind tone hole placement with Kurt Guckert for the Conn Manufacturing  Co.

1970- 1980- Guest performer on several live radio broadcast of the Larry Smith Show,
WHQK Chicago.

1979-Performer in the Governor State University Band under the direction of Billy Howell which received
three band performance awards at the “Notre Dame Jazz Competition.”

1978- “Women in Jazz” Northwestern University, Chicago IL.  Best performance award
“Downbeat  Magazine” with Diane Ellis.


Professional Work Experience

1991-Present
Restoration of modern and vintage instruments at workshops in Detroit and Chicago.  Owner of Dreamsinger  Horns .  Numerous private music students as well as music instructor at the Jerry Lux Studios and the Flute Specialist of Royal Oak, MI.  Workshops on antique and historic instruments include- Wayne State University “Bands, Winds, Brass and Percussion.”  Yearly workshops with Tim Holmes at Wayne State University.  “Saxology” with James Carter, “ Playing Professionals- Wind Instrument Restoration.” The Real Tones with Vaughn Klugh Jazz performances and workshops in the Metro Detroit area.  Currently doing business as Yavawinds.

International tours include Ollie Woodson’s 2000 Motown European tour with the Temptations.  Three world tours (1998-1999-2000) with Dennis Edwards and the Temptations.  Local performances include several appearances at the Detroit (Montreau) Jazz Festival with various featured artists.  Beans Bowles “Resurgence” and Department of Parks and Recreation “Tribute to Beans”at Hart plaza.  Detroit Department of Parks and Recreation summer concert series 1999-2002.  “The Motown Review” with the Johnny Trudel Band at Waterford, High School (2003).  Performed at local clubs and private venues with the following groups- II-V-I Orchestra, Joe Vitale Swing Band, Joe Hunter Trio, Gentlemen of Swing, Mimosa Classical Quintet, Prevos Brothers Greek Orchestra, Bob Hopkins Orchestra, Teddy Harris New Breed Be-Bop Society,  Martha Reeves, and Ladies in Jazz.  Recordings include “ The Oliologist” Word Jazz (2003), “Mimosa,” Toledo, Ohio, Room With A View Productions (1996), Northwinds Improvisors, Hot House, Chicago, “Rhapsody Español” Cleveland Symphony Orchestra.

1981-1990
Toured as a performer in the United States and Europe.  Played with the Milton Marcus trio, Tom Nehre Orchestra and the Sonny Boyer Group in Los Angeles, the Ed Blackwell and Steve Smith’s Experimental Music Group and Carl Berger’s Creative Studio Orchestra.  Traveled in Europe and played with various  Dixieland groups in Münchengladback, Cologne and Amsterdam.  Workshops conducted for Manfred Schmeltzer- repair workshops, tone production, mouthpieces and antique wind instruments in Münchengladback, Germany.  Conducted radio broadcast show at WHPK- University of Chicago.  Consultant, instructor, and instrument repair technician for the following companies throughout the 1980's- in Chicago Kagan and Gaines, Joe Calli, Sid Sherman Musical Instrument Co., Carl Fisher Music, Inc., Oak Park IN., Austin Music Center, Woodstock, N.Y., Musicians Horn Service, Brass Woodwind Wonderland.

1971-1980
Music director for the Travel Light Theater Orchestra, Chicago, The University of Illinois Dance Band and Gene Ammon’s House Club, “Toast of the Town.”  Performed and recorded with the African Highlife Dance Band, Oscar Sulley, Sun Ra Orchestra, Lee Roland’s Big Band, Ron Dewar, Bridgewaters, Jack McDuff, Bob and Von Freeman, Rafel Garret and the Supper Club tour with the G. Lynn Road Show.  Recordings include Nicolas Tremulos (1977), Two albums for Christine Lems folk Jazz (1971and 72) and dozens of recording sessions at the Delmark Studios in Chicago, IL.  Workshop and teaching assignments include- Chicago Board of Education, Marshall High School, Chicago Park District, youth program, University of Chicago Laboratory School, Creative Music Studio (NYSU) Newpaltz, N.Y., Chicago Safari House. Band instrument repair apprentice at Clarence Boess Instrument Repair, Chicago, Ill (1971-79) and certified in woodwind repair by Allied Inc. Elkhorn, WI (1973).

Education
Baritone Saxophone understudy with Dr. Beans Bowles and Dr. Teddy Harris
 University of Chicago- Radio Broadcasting
Creative Music Studio (NYSU) Newpaltz, Bachelor of Arts in Music
 Berklee College Boston, MA.
Allied Music Corporation, Elkhorn, WI
 
 

Professional Affiliations
American Federation of Musicians
American Musical Instrument Society
International Jazz Record Collectors
Member New Breed  Be-Bop Society Band- Dr. Teddy Harris
Coalition of Musicians, Artists, Craftsmen and Scientists