Vanessa Vache´- Clarinet, sax and recorder, educator and author

Vanessa Lawicki Vache was born and raised in the Cleveland, Ohio area. She is the daughter of watercolor artist Phyllis Lawicki and was taught by her mother as she was growing up. However, her love of music overshadowed her love of painting.

She received her Bachelors of Music degree from the Manhattan School of Music and her Master of Music degree from the Juilliard School, studying with notable professors Leon Russianoff and Charles Neidich. During that time she attended the Bowdoin Summer Music Festival and the Spoleto Festival.

Following completion of college she took a position as principal clarinetist with the Orquestra Sinfonica Nacional de la Republica Dominicana, in Santo Domingo.

After returning to the United States Ms. Vache served with the Air Force bands, living in New Hampshire, Germany and Warner Robins GA. Because of traveling demands while raising two small children Ms. Vache decided to peruse a teaching career. So teaching music along with playing was the next stage in her professional life.

Ms. Vache moved to Florida where she has been teaching pre-K3 through eighth grade music while freelancing on the clarinet, saxophone and recorder. She performs in many musical groups, including The Walt Disney World Orchestra, local symphonies, concert bands and various other music ensembles, and holds a position as clarinet professor at Valencia College.

It was during her teaching career that she realized the need to share the story of Pilzen and the military heroes of World War II with her students. ”It was many years later that I realized what an extraordinary life changing adventure we had. Just telling my students about it in class didn’t do the experience justice. Also I wanted to have a book that would discuss life as a musician from the beginning to help and encourage young musicians.”