Ms. May has been a professional musician since 1980, having played both violin and flute for over thirty years. She holds a Bachelor’s of Arts in Education from Marygrove College, a Master of Arts in Counseling from Wayne State University and a Certificate in Recording Technology from Schoolcraft College. In addition, she has extensive post-Bachelor’s and post-Master’s work in both music and corporate training and development, all from Wayne State University. She is a sought-after teacher on both violin and flute. Ms. May has been a member of numerous local classical, gospel and jazz ensembles, as well as performing in orchestras and on recordings behind such nationally renowned performers as Aretha Franklin, Donnie McClurkin, Fred Hammond, Richard Smallwood, Smokey Robinson, Stevie Wonder, Natalie Cole, and the late greats Joe Williams, Barry White, and Dizzy Gillespie, to name a few. She has worked with the Sphinx Organization (www.sphinxmusic.org) since 2001 as Sphinx Symphony member, Sphinx Jury and Guest Artist Liaison and former Dean of the Sphinx Preparatory Institute and Coordinator of Sphinx Overture, an after-school violin program for beginning students. Ms. May leads Musique Noire (www.musiquenoire.com and www.myspace.com/musiquenoireband), a jazz fusion band with veteran string and percussion players. She is the Vice-President of A.M. May & Associates, Inc., a Detroit counseling and consulting firm (co-founded with her sister, Dr. Angela C. May), and an adjunct counselor at Oakland Community College. She has held numerous Board of Directors and Committee positions with such organizations as Adult Learning Systems (non-profit mental health), the Michigan College Personnel Association (including a term as President), Delta Omicron International Music Fraternity (current Chair of Summer Scholarships) and the Historic Boston-Edison Residential Historic District. Ms. May is a member of the Detroit Federation of Musicians (Local 5), a voting member of the Detroit Music Awards and a voting member of the Chicago Chapter of the Recording Academy, annually participating in the voting process for the Grammy Awards.She is married to Ronald Vincent James.
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