Monica Shriver has been performing in a wide variety of musical settings for over 20 years. A professional musician, composer & arranger and educator based out of Phoenix, AZ, Monica has played in big bands, jazz combos, pit orchestras, rock bands, chamber ensembles, and orchestras. Monica regularly performs on all the saxophones, flute and piccolo, clarinet and bass clarinet and is currently working on her bassoon and electric bass chops.

Born in Dillon, CO, Monica spent most of her early childhood playing in the snow. In 1984, her family moved to Sedona, AZ and in 5th grade Monica started playing the clarinet under the direction of John Kline. Shortly after that Monica discovered the tenor saxophone and never looked back. Eventually moving to Flagstaff for 8-12th grade, Monica made music one of the most important things in her life, regularly performing with the Sentimental Journey Big Band, Sedona Jazz on the Rocks Youth Band (where she was a founding member), Regionals and All-State honors, and playing in Band, Jazz Band, and Choir at Sinagua High School.

Monica continued her musical education with Wildy Zumwalt at Northern Arizona University where she was a classical saxophone major, and studied jazz under Pete Vivona, then director of Jazz Studies. Monica ended up leaving NAU prior to graduation and moved to Phoenix, AZ in January 1999 where she took some time off of school, but continued to play music at Glendale Community College with Dave Schmidt. In 2000, she applied to Arizona State University, where she studied flute with Liz Buck, and jazz with Chuck Marohnic, Mike Crotty, Dwight Killian, and other fantastic musicians and teachers. She graduated with her BA in Music in 2003. 

Monica enjoys a diverse and creative career performing all kinds of music. Monica plays flute and saxophone in the Pangean Orchestra. She has an active and successful private studio (her students have made Regionals, All-State, and National Honor Bands) and teaches Saxophone, Clarinet, Bassoon Sectionals and directs Jazz Band at Arizona School for the Arts, a college-prep arts charter school. She also enjoys composing and arranging. She is an active member of AFM Local 586 - American Federation of Musicians - Arizona, the North American Saxophone Alliance and Jazz Education Network. 

Monica is always looking for projects and new opportunities. Monica can be reached via e-mail at saxymoni@gmail.com or by phone at 480-239-9122. She also has a public blog called Jazz Journey at http://saxymoni.com