Faculty Bios

Laura Dreyer

As a student at the Berklee College of Music, Laura Dreyer studied with noted music educators Andy McGee, Joe Viola, and John LaPorta. She also took private lessons with saxophone greats Joe Henderson and Joe Lovano, and composers Lyle Mays and Jim McNeely. Mysterious Encounter, her longstanding Brazilian-jazz ensemble, has performed at many of New York City’s top clubs, most recently with an eight month engagement at the popular Tribeca lounge Dekk. Laura’s love of Brazilian music has been fostered by her work with noted musicians such as vocalist Leny Andrade, guitarist Romero Lubambo, pianists Dom Salvador and Weber Iago, drummer Portinho, and percussionist Helcio Militon. She toured Cyprus with the Broadway show Five Guys Named Moe, performed in the national tour of the Duke Ellington tribute Hit Me with a Hot Note, and recently played in the onstage band of the award-winning musical Hot and Sweet at the New York Musical Theatre Festival. Laura was a featured columnist in Saxophone Journal for five years, and continues to write for various music publications including Jazz Improv Magazine, and Sax on the Web.