Bonnie Radecki Reidel
Woodwind Repair Technician

Bonnie Radecki Reidel earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Flute Performance from Occidental College in Los Angeles, CA in 1996. After college she attended Renton Technical College near Seattle, WA and received a certification as a Musical Instrument Repair Technician in 1998. Bonnie then moved to the Chicago area to accept a position as a full-time woodwind repair technician at Karnes Music Company.

Since moving to the Chicago suburbs, she has worked with various music stores and repair shops repairing woodwinds before deciding to open her own store, Fix This! Musical Instrument Repair.

As an active member of the National Association of Professional Band Instrument Repair Technicians (NAPBIRT), she participates in local and national repair workshops to continually improve her repair skills and learn about new trade developments, and was recently certified as a Straubinger Certified Technician. Bonnie still enjoys playing the flute with local ensembles, including the Harper Wind Symphony and Wheaton Municipal Band.

Nate Medsker earned a Bachelor's Degree in Music at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire in 2003, after having started his studies at Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, Minnesota. The following year, he attended Southeast Technical College in Red Wing, Minnesota, receiving the Diploma in Band Instrument Repair. He began his repair career working on a mix of brass and woodwind instruments at SSE Music in La Crosse, Wisconsin. In 2007, Nate moved to the Milwaukee area to work at Greenhoe, Inc. where his duties included building trombone bell sections, and consulting with clients in the selection of new instruments.

Nate is a member of NAPBIRT, the International Trombone Association, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia. As a trombonist, he enjoys performing in local orchestras, concert bands, big bands, and chamber ensembles. When not involved in music, he spends time bicycling and reading.

John Maddox received his Bachelor of Arts in Trombone Performance from the University of South Florida in 2011. After graduation, he attended Southeast Technical School’s Band Instrument Repair program in Red Wing, MN. He has previously worked at Sam Ash Music in Tampa, FL and Interlochen Center for the Arts in Michigan.

While at USF, John played with many different groups including the USF Wind Ensemble, Jazz band, and trombone choir. He has studied under a variety of artists including Tom Brantley, Joe Alessi, Mark Hetzler, and Harold Van Schaik. While at Southeast Technical, John worked as the shop assistant, preparing equipment for use, making tools, and play-testing instruments.

In his spare time, John enjoys playing jazz and many other styles of music as well as attending live performances.  John will be joining the staff at the shop at the end of May, 2012.  We look forward to having him on board!

Colby Fahrenbacher is a graduate of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where he received his Master's of Music Degree in 2011 and his Bachelor's of Music Degree in 2009.

While a student of Professor Mark Moore, Colby was selected as a winner of the 2011 University of Illinois Concerto Competition and received 1st place at the 2011 Midwest Regional Tuba-Euphonium Conference Tuba Solo Artist Competition. Previously, he received 3rd place at the 2010 Falcone Festival Tuba Solo Artist Competition, was a finalist at the 2010 International Tuba-Euphonium Conference Quartet Competition, and was a semi-finalist at the 2010 International Tuba-Euphonium Conference Solo Tuba Competition. 

He is principal tuba with the Danville Symphony Orchestra and  an associate member of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago. He has performed with many ensembles, including the Champaign-Urbana Symphony Orchestra, the Prairie Ensemble, the Classical Symphony Orchestra, and the Wheaton Municipal Band. He is also a member of the Aduro Brass Quintet and the Phonatopia Tuba-Euphonium Quartet. In addition to performing frequently in the Midwest, Colby also teaches privately in the Chicagoland area.