Meet The Staff

Eric Satterlee, Founder

Eric is the founder (1984) of Meridian Winds in Okemos, Michigan. He began his repair apprenticeship in 1972 and has been learning ever since. Over the years, he has presented numerous instrument repair clinics for the National Association of Professional Band Instrument Repair Technicians (NAPBIRT), the Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association (MSBOA), and the American School Band Directors Association (ASBDA). He has traveled throughout Europe on several occasions visiting repair technicians, and he has manned the booth at the Frankfurt Music MESSE representing Ferree's Tools, the world's largest maker of musical instrument repair tools. He holds certification from the Straubinger Flute company. Eric is co-inventor of the Magnetic Dent Removal System, which is manufactured and distributed globally from Meridian Winds. Eric is now retired from the store, and is enjoying a well deserved step-back after more than four decades of contribution to the musical community!

Bruce McCall, Woodwind Repair Technician

Bruce McCall is originally from East Lansing, MI, where he graduated from East Lansing HS and earned a Bachelor of Music in Bassoon & Oboe at Michigan State University. He was a member of the US Military Academy Band at West Point where he performed on both instruments. Bruce took apart his first oboe while in the 6th grade and has been actively repairing woodwinds since 1976. He returned to his home town and joined the repair team at Meridian Winds in 2014. While very familiar with all aspects of woodwind repair, his experience is in the service of professionals and college-level players from across the country. For many years, Bruce operated his repair business from NYC while also working as a free-lance performer. He has presented numerous double reed repair seminars for the International Double Reed Society (IDRS), The National Association of Professional Band Instrument Repair Technicians (NAPBIRT), The Brevard Center, as well as at many universities across the country. Bruce holds certification from both Straubinger and Muramatsu, and he is the author of "The Essential Guide to Adjusting Your Oboe," which is available at Meridian Winds.

Dave Christenson, Brass Repair Technician

Dave has been a brass repair technician at Meridian Winds for many years. During his tenure, he has developed a very considerable following of brass players who trust him with their instruments. He is primarily a trumpeter but is well versed in all brasswinds. He is originally from a small town in Minnesota and graduated with a music degree from Union College. After being a band director for several years, Dave decided to follow the call to become an instrument repair technician. He attended the prestigious Redwing Technical College where he studied under master technicians Jon Huth and Gene Beckwith. Besides playing trumpet in various ensembles and brass bands, Dave regularly works with his church's youth sharing his musical skills.

Devon Gross, Accounts & Print Music Manager

Devon took apart an oboe once but did not particularly enjoy putting it back together so she is happy to be behind the scenes as Accounts/Print Music Manager. She grew up in Marshall, Michigan, then continued on to earn a Bachelor's degree at Central Michigan University where she studied oboe (with Dr. Lindabeth Binkley) as well as English: Creative Writing. Devon plays oboe and English horn in the Mason Symphony Orchestra and in the pit orchestras for theatre companies across Michigan. She also teaches private oboe lessons right here at Meridian Winds.

John Cooper, Brass Specialist

John, the newest addition to our Brass Shop, has been bringing brass instruments back from the brink since 2015, fixing everything from minor dings to "how did this even happen?" A graduate of Grand Ledge High School, he studied under band director Michael Kaufman before continuing on trumpet at Michigan State with Rich Illman. Somewhere along the way, he realized he enjoyed fixing instruments as much as playing them (maybe even more) so he turned it into a career. These days, he takes pride in helping musicians sound their best and keeping their instruments in one piece. John still performs occasionally with community groups and at church, proving he knows which end of the trumpet to blow in. When he's not at the bench, he enjoys spending time with his family--especially Up North--and keeps busy with kayaking, taekwondo, and archery, because apparently sitting still isn't really his thing.

Gary Beem, Repair Technician

Gary Beem began his instrument repair apprenticeship in 1975 while he was still a high school student. He is from East Lansing , MI where he graduated from East Lansing High School and his father was a band director. Gary is a percussionist and while in high school traveled internationally on several occasions with Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp bands. He has also been an active player in various community and big bands in the mid-Michigan area. Gary's repair skills are considered legendary with the many Meridian Winds repair technicians he has mentored during his over 30 years here. Whenever there is a particularly difficult repair in the shop that requires skills and experience, we "give it to the Beemer." Gary's lathe and fabrication skills in particular are well recognized. He has developed many methods for rebuilding instruments that have become standard practice in the industry. Gary was also instrumental in the development of the Magnetic Dent Removal System, and has logged more hours using the MDRS than any other technician. He is considered the foremost authority on use, technique and application of the MDRS. Gary never takes a vacation day during most of the year but don't look for him in the shop between the 15th and 30th of November during deer hunting season.

Sarah Ellul, Clarinet Repair Specialist

Sarah is a graduate of Michigan State University, where she earned a Master of Music in Clarinet Performance studying with Elsa Verdehr and Tasha Warren-Yehuda. She is also a graduate of Eastern Michigan University, where she studied clarinet performance with Dr. Kimberly Cole and Dr. Sandra Jackson. During high school Sarah studied clarinet with Dr. Kathy Wood and Dr. Meghan Merciers who both also received their advanced degrees from Elsa Verdehr. Sarah worked part time in the shop during her time at MSU and began her instrument repair apprenticeship upon graduation. She specializes in all aspects of clarinet repair, maintenance, and restoration. She also ensures that Meridian Winds' extensive inventory of clarinets are in excellent playing condition and set up to her exacting standards. Sarah is especially trusted for her expertise in working with Buffet-Crampon's line of professional clarinets.

Samuel Lock, Store Manager and Woodwind Tech

Samuel Lock is originally from Fort Wayne, IN. He studied jazz saxophone at Ball State University traveled with the BSU Jazz Lab Band to perform in Switzerland, France, and Costa Rica. After graduation, Sam moved to Indianapolis and landed a job as a woodwind repair tech at a local music shop. He also taught lessons for saxophone, clarinet, and flute at Clinton Central Jr./Sr High School and privately in the Indianapolis area.

Melanie Cox, Repair Shop Manager & Flute Specialist

Melanie Cox is a native of Toledo, Ohio. She earned her Bachelor's degree in Music Education from the University of Toledo. She studied with Joel Tse (Principal Flutist of the Toledo Symphony Orchestra) and double bass under Norm Damschroder (Double Bassist for the Toledo Symphony Jazz Trio). After graduation, she went on to receive an Associate's degree in Band Instrument Repair from Minnesota State College Southeast Tech in Red Wing, Minnesota. Before joining the team here at Meridian Winds, she spent a few years working for different repair shops across the country, including Maryland, Indiana, and North Carolina. Melanie has most recently received her Muramatsu and Straubinger Certification.  

Robert Bylski, Web Sales & Inventory Manager

After graduating from Grosse Pointe North High School Robert was off to Central Michigan University to study Music Education and Clarinet Performance with Professor Kennen White, graduating in 2016. After CMU he came to Michigan State to continue his clarinet performance studies with Dr. Mingzhe Wang, graduating with his master's degree in May 2019.

Qanyu Phang, Woodwind Repair Technician

Qanyu first discovered instrument repair under Master Technician Melody Choplin during his time at the University of North Carolina Greensboro. Immediately after college, Qanyu accepted an internship with Fox Products in South Whitley, Indiana where he repaired and adjusted bassoons for a summer season. Upon completion of his internship, Qanyu accepted a full-time position in bassoon production, eventually becoming a Production Lead for the Bassoon Finishing Department. While there, he assisted in recruiting new technicians, in addition to continuing to refine his skills while working alongside a number of industry artisans.After seven years with Fox Products, Qanyu moved to Lansing, Michigan where he began working at Meridian Winds. Today he serves as a Double Reed Specialist alongside Master Technician Bruce McCall.

Liam Trawick, Saxophone Technician

Liam Trawick is a saxophonist and clarinetist from Raleigh, North Carolina. Liam earned a degree in Jazz Saxophone from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro as a student of Chad Eby, graduating in 2021. After working for a few years as a jazz musician and educator, Liam found himself working at a local saxophone shop as a saxophone photographer, cleaning instruments at UNCG as an apprentice, and repairing saxophones as a hobby. Having been a lifelong gearhead and finding a new love for repair, he graduated from repair school in Red Wing, Minnesota in 2024. In his free time, Liam likes cooking, riding his bike, attending local jazz jam sessions, and composing original music. 

COlton Germane, School service representative

Bio coming soon!

Rhys Sirna, Customer Service Representative

Rhys grew up in rural Southwest Michigan and moved to the Lansing area for college at Michigan State, where they graduated with degrees in Interdisciplinary Social Science and Gender Studies. They have played both piano and flute since elementary school and served as their school band's drum major for two years. Currently they play piccolo for Splendid Chaos, a local community street band! Rhys has held jobs in many different fields, including early childhood education and computer sciences, but music has always been the thing they come back to. They are so excited to be part of the Meridian winds team!