Mark Vickers, piano/flute, has been a performer in Connecticut since beginning accordion at age eight.  Mark went on to study jazz piano, improvisation, and arranging with Neil Slater at the University of Bridgeport while earning his bachelor's degree in music education. He earned his Masters of Music Education with an emphasis in flute with Julius Baker from Juilliard. He later received his Ph.D. in music education at the Hartt School and continued the study of jazz flute. During his 35 - year career as a public school music educator in CT. Mark performed with various jazz groups and big bands on the piano while playing flute with and conducting various concert bands and orchestras in the Hartford area. Currently, in addition to performing with Metro Jazz. He is co-principal flute with CT Valley Symphony Orchestra, co-directs the New York Flute Club Ensemble program in Manhattan, and is an adjunct music education professor at the University of Bridgeport where he leads the UB Knight's Ensemble Wind Band.