Meet the Talented Classic Mix Musicians!

Valerie Pernice is a professional vocalist, violinist and violist. Her background experience consists of musical education at Kansas University, performing with local orchestras, symphonies, singing and /or playing with Jazz groups and Big Bands, Performing and touring with the following artists: 3 Tenors, Ray Charles, Steve and Edie, N-Sync, Sarah Brighton, Clay Aikins, Richard Plant and Jimmy Page(Led-Zepplin), Peobo Bryson and the “Colors Of Christmas”, Celine Dion, and Richard Marx to name a few.

Craig Thomas is a professional performer, singer, and multi-instrumentalist. Under the tutelage of his mother, Craig delved into the world of early choral and instrumental music and began learning such instruments as the violin, viola da gamba, recorder, flute, mandolin, hurdy-gurdy and classical guitar.

Craig is a full time member of the Irish/Pop band The Wyndbreakers, artistic director of the Renaissance ensemble The Playford Waits, the baroque trio sonata group Olde Noyse and the Caroling Company. He is also a veteran liturgical instrumentalist at St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church in Winter Park, FL.

Deborah Dansby Wells, viola and violin, is a long time resident of Orlando. Debbie is a freelance ensemble performer, soloist, clinician, and instructor who has played with nearly every orchestra statewide as well as many ensembles around the United States. She travels worldwide making music, often with the legendary Mantovani Orchestra, of which she is Principal Viola and Tour Manager.

Deborah has performed with many well-known artists (often acting as their orchestra contractor) such as Ray Charles, Rod Stewart, Dionne Warwick, Henry Mancini, Johnny Mathis, Robert Goulet, Roberta Peters, and Robert Merrill to mention a few. As a student of Paul Rolland and Lillian Fuchs, Debbie came to love the process of learning her instruments and is dedicated to passing on the wisdom and knowledge of her revered mentors to students of all levels. She earned Bachelors and Masters in both Performance and Education from the University of Michigan. Deborah has been a member (and Vice President) of the Central Florida Musicians’ Association for more than 30 years and was named a National Arts Associate of the Sigma Alpha Iota national music sorority in 2005.

Paul Fleury is a hybrid cellist, and highly skilled in classical, jazz improvisation, rock, and Blues/R&B. He has performed with many orchestras worldwide; touring, recording and performing with them. He makes his home in Orlando, FL and currently sits principal cellist with five orchestras, as well as performing with many others in the area. He includes the internationally acclaimed Mantovani Orchestra in this list; touring in Asia and Europe, with several other tours planned in the coming year. He has performed in venues that range from Carnegie Hall to jam sessions throughout the world, and is highly respected in the musical community for his versatility.

He has had his professional career stretch for 33 years, and did his first concerto with the Florida Symphony Orchestra at age 12. By the age of 14, he was being hired by professional contractors locally, further advancing his career before starting high school. At 15, he accepted his first principal chair position with the Space Coast Symphony (now the Space Coast Pops). Since then, he has expanded his experience.

Megan graduated with her B.M. in Music Education from the University of Florida with a speciality in Choral Music, as well as acquired her Florida K-12 Teaching License. While living in Gainesville, she worked as Assistant Music Director and Alto Staff Singer at First Presbyterian Church of Gainesville. Megan was also a private lesson instructor at Shining Star Music Academy for many years during her time at UF.

To supplement her studies, Megan served as a Research Assistant to Dr. Marshall Haning. Together Megan and Dr. Haning published a research paper titled “Relationships Between Instrumental Experience and Sight-Reading Proficiency” and presented their findings in research poster sessions at both the Florida Music Education Association conference, as well as the Symposium on Music Teacher Education in 2021. Megan still actively performs locally today. She frequently plays violin for weddings, funerals, and special events. Megan has performance experience in a variety of ensembles including orchestras, choirs, bands, chamber groups, and pit orchestras.