Delandria Mills
Flute, Flute Choir
Flutist/Singer/Songwriter Delandria Mills is carving a place in the music industry with her unique combination of jazz, classical, and gospel. A native of Houston, Tx., Delandria holds music degrees from Prairie View A&M University (BA ’98), and from the Peabody Conservatory of Music (MM ’02 Flute, GPD ’05 Jazz). As a classical flutist, she has served as Principal of the Baytown Symphony and Assistant/Associate Principal while at Peabody. Her former teachers include Dr. Wendy Issac Bergin, Hubert Laws, Emily Skala, Paula "Boots" Hatcher, and Marina Piccinini.
Delandria's musical approach combines her beautifully velvet style, soulful interpretation, and extensive musical training to add dimension to her work, with the influences of Hubert Laws, Freddie Hubbard, Kim Burrell, and many other classical, jazz, and gospel artists, to produce a distinct sound.
Her impeccable skills earned her the top prize at the National Flute Association's Jazz Flute Competition in Las Vegas, Nev. in 2003 and led to her being selected as one of six international young women to win the International Association of Jazz Educators' Sisters in Jazz Collgiate Competition in 2005, which resulted in a European tour. She is the founder and leader of the Delandria Mills Jazz Collective; has served in Soundcheck, the critically acclaimed band behind gospel pioneer Tye Tribbett and Greater Anointing; and has collaborated with some of the industry's finest jazz and gospel artists.
As a recording artist, Delandria has been featured on recordings by Fertile Ground (Black Is, 2004), The Kevin Robinson Ensemble (The GOD Factor, 2004), Adidam (Adidam, 2004), Tye Tribbett (Ideas and Concepts, 2004, Life, 2004, Victory, 2005, and Standout, 2007), Judith Christie McCalister (Sound the Trumpet, 2008), and Baltimore's own Micah Smith. Fall 2010 marks the release of three CDs on which Mills is showcasing her versatility: Kingdom Goes Classical, Ephphatha, and Be Happy.
