Our Staff

The owner of Desert Winds is Gerry Evoniuk who has been repairing band instruments since 1972. Gerry served as a repair intern at the G. Leblanc factory in Kenosha, Wisconsin, before moving to Syracuse, New York to begin his apprenticeship at Central Music Supply (now called Music & Arts). He completed an apprenticeship in band instrument repair with Leroy Abbott, the head technician at Central Music Supply in Syracuse, NY. From 1975-1976 he managed the repair shop at Central Music Supply, then moved to Arizona in 1976 to start his own music store. In August of 1976, Desert Winds opened its doors.

Gerry is also the instrument repair technician for Arizona State University, a position he has held since July 1990.

Gerry studied flute repair with Jonathon Landell of the Vermont School of Flute Making. He is a highly skilled technician in all areas of woodwind and brass repair, specializing in professional saxophone and oboe repair.

Michael LaMonica holds a bachelor's degree in music education and a master's in saxophone performance from Arizona State University, where he studied with Joseph Wytko. He has also studied under Eugene Rousseau at Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana, and was a teaching assistant under Dr. Rousseau. He is currently teaching music in the Mesa School District and plays tenor & records professionally in the Joseph Wytko Saxophone Quartet.

Mike began his apprenticeship at Desert Winds in 1988. He specializes in flute, clarinet, and saxophone repair, as well as basic brass repair.