Miles Davis Owner and Master Repair Technician - Louisville, Ky
Miles Davis has been an instrument repair technician for over twenty-five years. Miles studied flute repair with David Straubinger and Jonathan Landell, and he is a licensed Straubinger pad technician. As an instrument repair technician, he has worked on the instruments of Jim Walker, Eric Alexander, Jamey Aebersold, Brad Garner, and has overhauled the instruments of the Louisville Orchestra’s entire clarinet section. Miles is certified to install Jim Schmidt flute and saxophone pads.
Mr. Davis is also distinguished in the realm of performance. He has played with numerous Broadway touring companies, the Louisville Orchestra, and is frequently sought after in the region as a woodwind doubler. The list of prominent musicians and entertainers he has performed with includes, but is not limited to, Ray Charles, Natalie Cole, Barry Manilow, Doc Severinsen, Frank Sinatra Jr., Aretha Franklin, Johnny Mathis, Gladys Knight, Bob Hope, The Four Tops, and The Temptations.
Mr. Davis is happily married and the proud father of two.
Store Staff
John Richardson General Manager & Store Manager - Richmond, Ky
John Richardson comes to Miles Ahead Music with extensive performing and teaching experience. He earned his B.M. in Jazz Studies from Eastern Illinois University and an M.M. from the University of Kentucky. As the original director of the Jazz Arts Foundation Youth Ensemble in 1996, Mr. Richardson continued to lead it for the first ten years of its existence. The group had twice been featured at the Kentucky Music Educator's Association conference. He has taught courses at the University of Kentucky, Centre College, Transylvania University, Asbury College and Morehead State University. In the public schools he has been saxophone instructor at Lafayette H.S. and Scott County H.S. He has directed the jazz programs at Lafayette High School and Tates Creek High School and maintained a private studio of 30-40 students. As a performer, Mr. Richardson is proficient in all idioms including jazz, rock, R&B, classical, pop and reggae. He has shared the stage with many of the world's most influential artists, including Dizzy Gillespie, Mel Torme, Bobby Shew, Clark Terry, Dianne Shuur, Louie Bellson, Rufus Reid and Jerry Butler.
Jessica Lynn Special Projects Manager - Louisville, Ky
Jessica K Lynn received her Bachelors in Music and minor in Psychology at the University of Louisville December of 2010. During her time at UofL she studied clarinet under Dallas Tidwell, flute under Kathy Karr, oboe under Jennifer Potochnic and critical performances were occasionally by the guidance of Marilyn Neij. She also studied saxophone under graduate saxophone performance majors at the university. Jessica excelled in a two part Mastery of Music Performance project under the highly respected jazz musician Harry Pickens. Jessica is currently in her graduate masters program for occupational therapy at Spalding University. Occupational therapy is the art and science of promoting health and independence by enabling people to perform in meaningful and purposeful activities. Jessica currently serves as the student representative for the state association, KOTA, and will specialize in pediatrics after becoming a licensed OT.
Jessica’s clarinet studio spans across Louisville and surrounding counties to the Owensboro area. She teaches woodwind sectionals during concert and marching band seasons developing all woodwind students with her experience on each instrument and private lessons as well. It is her greatest goal for her students to develop a close relationship with music and reach their highest attainment. Jessica also performs with the Chamber Winds of Louisville, Louisville Symphonic Winds, and UofL Alumni Clarinet Quartet and is an active alumni member and Alpha South Province President of the Delta Omicron International Fraternity of Professional Musicians.
Carrie Ravenscraft Customer Service - Louisville, Ky
Carrie Ravenscraft, originating from Chicago, began her music life at age 3 with piano, and at the age of 14 began studying the clarinet. Her studies include The American Conservatory of Music, DePaul University, Chicago College of Performing Arts, Ball State University and Indiana University. Her main teachers were Ernest Gross, Caroline Hartig, Greg Smith, Julie DeRoche, Larry Combs, John Bruce Yeh, and include master classes with J. Lawrie Bloom, Carolee Smith, Eddie Daniels and Robert Marcellus.
Ms. Ravenscraft has performed in the Evansville Philharmonic Orchestra, Keep Louisville Symphonic, Muncie Symphony Orchestra, Carmel Symphony Orchestra, Marion Philharmonic and Classical Symphony of Chicago. She has also served as Music & Orchestra Director for Actors Community Theatre in Dubois County Indiana for 10 years. Ms. Ravenscraft is a guest soloist and clinician at University of Evansville’s annual Clarinet Workshop, and has been a guest artist for several fundraising and community events, including Seniors Experiencing the Arts in Dubois County Indiana, and the private reception for the Archduke Markus S. Habsburg of Habsburg, Austria.
She recently premiered Perceptions of Strife, which was commissioned by Peter Felice. In April of 2012 she performed Weber’s Clarinet Concerto No. 2 with the IUS Orchestra. Ms. Ravenscraft was the 2011 recipient of Outstanding Student Award in Music at Indiana University Southeast, and graduated with honors in 2012. She has run a private studio in Jasper, Indiana for the last 10 years. She is the mommy of a young cellist named Elena.
Amber Gutierrez Store Manager - Louisville, Ky
Amber Gutierrez, formerly known as Amber Richeson, joined the Miles Ahead Music sales team full time in the summer of 2011. Amber graduated from the University of Louisville in 2008 with a B.A. in Music and a Minor in Theatre. She studied clarinet under both Dallas Tidwell and Tim Zavadil. While pursuing her degree at the University of Louisville, Amber performed in the Wind Ensemble under Dr. Frederick Speck, Director of Bands. Amber performed with the Wind Ensemble in Carnegie Hall and at the International WASBE Conference in Killarney, Ireland.
Mrs. Gutierrez has also had the pleasure of working with the clarinet sections of Ballard High School, Hancock County High School, and Apollo High School among others. She also maintains a small private clarinet studio for middle and high school clarinet players. Amber currently performs with the University of Louisville Alumni Chamber Winds and the Alumni Clarinet Quartet and is a member of the Delta Omicron International Fraternity of Professional Musicians.
Amber is a happily married newlywed.
.jpg)
Joe Dunn Educational Representative - Louisville, Ky
Joe Dunn, one of the newest
members of the Miles Ahead Music team, began his musical journey playing drums
at a little white church in the southwest town of El Paso, TX. Focusing on
keyboard and stringed instruments as the years continued, he completed his BA
in double bass at New Mexico State University. In 2008, Joe moved to
Louisville, KY to attend the Jamey Aebersold jazz program at the University of
Louisville where he studied with John Labarbera.
Most recently, Mr. Dunn has taken on the role of Director of Music at Third Central United Christian Church as well as the conductor and primary composer for Your Friendly Neighborhood Big Band, a traditional big band for a modern audience. Additionally, he has produced and released two albums of his own with plans for more in the future.
Sharing the stage with Tony Orlando, James Ingram, Deniece Williams, Stephanie Mills and Peabo Bryson, as well as Gospel artists John P. Kee, Vickie Winans, Kirvy Brown and Dorinda Clark Cole, Joe has always considered himself blessed to be surrounded by such a wealth of musical talent and abilities. Still, his greatest joys are the people surrounding Joe in his daily life. Joe's motto of "people first" permeates his interactions while on the road for Miles Ahead, in the studio with the big band, and on the organ in front of his choir on Sundays.
Daniel Barton, Customer Service - Richmond, Ky
Daniel Barton Studied Trumpet at the University of Kentucky and
Eastern Kentucky University. He studied
under Mr. Mark Clodfelter, Dr. Josef VanFleet, and Mr. Vince DiMartino. Mr. Barton has been teaching middle school
and high school students privately in the central Kentucky area since 2004. As
well as teaching privately, Mr. Barton has taught trumpet and brass at Madison
Central high school, Madison Middle school, Clark Moors middle school, Model
Laboratory, Caudill Middle school, and Ohio County high school.
Repair Staff
Aaron Kinman Brass & Saxophone Repair Technician - Louisville, Ky
Initially an apprentice under Miles Davis, Aaron has gone on to become a master in the field of instrument repair. As an instrument repair technician he has done work on the instrument of jazz greats like Slide Hampton, Eric Alexander, Buddy Morrow, Delfeayo Marsalis just to name a few. his accomplishments are numerous. He repairs and maintains instruments from schools, universities, including University of Louisville and University of Kentucky. and military around the country. Mr. Kinman is in demand as a freelance soloist and ensemble performer. Aaron appears regularly with many different ensembles in churches, weddings, big bands, show bands, studio work and orchestras such as the Louisville Orchestra, including several performances at the Blue Note Jazz Club in New York City.
He is happily married with four children.
George Flores Woodwind Repair Technician - Louisville, Ky
In addition to studying music at the University of Louisville, George studied jazz and classical saxophone with John Richardson, John Moore and Jacob Duncan. He is currently performers in ensembles like The Dixieland Solution and Your Friendly Neighborhood Big Band, that can be heard at the Nachbar in Germantown.
He is single.
Mark McCulloch String Repair Technician - Louisville, Ky
Mark McCulloch’s services as a professional bassist run parallel to his skills in repair. The Louisville area has enjoyed his musicianship for thirty-five years, whether it be large shows or small combos like the Jeff Sherman Duo. His artistry can be heard on several published recordings. Mark is always a first call bassist at venues such as Derby Dinner Play House and Varanese Mediterranean Restaurant.
Mark is happily married and a father to two daughters.
Dustin Webb Brass & Woodwind Repair Technician - Louisville, Ky
Dustin Webb joins us with 8 years repair experience, spanning repairs from flutes to tuba stands. Dustin is a native of Louisville, a graduate of Male High School, where he performed on tuba. He attended Badger State Repair in Elkhorn, Wisconsin to learn the trade. His specialty is brass repair but handles all aspects of the band room. In his off-time he enjoys hunting and fishing and enjoys working on cars, as well as playing drums in honkey- tonk bands.
He is happily married with a 1-year old “miracle” son.
