Mark's musical interest was nurtured from a very young age by his family, and most significantly by his parents, who have always exposed him to a wide variety of music, encompassing the classical, folk, rock, and world music genres, to name a few. He can remember careening around his parent's house while his mother played selections from Carmen at the age of 5 and taking his first piano lesson at the age of 8.

Coming from this rich background in music, which grew with time and has included in the past 10 years the study of Greek Bouzouki, Flamenco and Classical Guitar, Accordion, Violin, Piano, Trumpet, Penny Whistle, and Rauschpfiefe, as well as 2 years of Music Theory at the University of Texas San Antonio, Mark Varelas brings to Wine and Alchemy a strong drive, an inspired artistic vision, and a multitude of highly developed musical talents.

With a strong desire to share his love of music, Mark has always been eager to teach and help upcoming musicians develop their skills.

Mark founded the band E Serenes in 1999 and began performing Greek Bouzouki with the group in the area around San Antonio, Texas. In 2001 Mark had the opportunity to study Bouzouki in Greece with a native proficient. In 2002 E Serenes changed it's name to E Muzeki and began touring the US, performing at a variety of venues including several Renaissance Festivals in Texas, Michigan, Maryland, Florida, Arizona, and Ohio. Over the course of 5 years, 2002-2007, Mark devoted his life to music, working as the head composer and creative director of E Muzeki. In addition to composing original and arranging traditional music and playing Bouzouki, Lead Guitar, Accordion and a variety of other instruments in the band's countless performances, he also co-produced E Muzeki's four CD's. Taking on the roles of Head Composer, Producer, Music Director, and Lead Instrumentalist in Wine and Alchemy's exceptional line up of talent, Mark looks forward to a future of inspired music and innovative performances to come.

Roxanne has been singing since the age of 8, starting in the children's choir at her church and later taking part in vocal competitions in secondary school. A love of performance later led her to attain a BA in Theater at the University of Michigan-Flint and to pursue the study of Belly Dance.

Roxanne has studied a variety of Middle Eastern Dance styles since 1998, through classes, workshops and events both in the US and overseas with various professional teachers. Since 1999 she has appeared in a variety of public concerts, festivals and private venues, and at Renaissance Festivals across the U.S. and in Ireland.

The dance forms she has studied include Egyptian, Lebanese, Saudi, Folk Turkish, Moroccan, Persian, Tribal Style Belly Dance and several more. She also has specialty performance experience in Sword Dancing, Veil Spinning, Mask Dancing, Fire Dancing - Poi and Fire Fans, Snake Dancing, Dancing with Zils and Turkish Spoons, Fusion Fan Dancing and others.

In 2006 she founded the Carnivale Mijnoon Music and Dance Company and worked as the Executive Director, Creative Director, Choreographer, Script Writer, Costume Designer, and Lead Dancer in 2006 and 2007.

At the end of 2007 Roxanne chose to step away from the comedy suffused dance project (while continuing to offer support for the still performing CM group) and throw her primary artistic efforts back into music as the Lead Vocalist, Dancer, Lyricist and Co-Creative Director for Wine and Alchemy.

Roxanne is available to teach Dance Workshops on a variety of topics. See booking for more info.

Born in Chicago, Corrin Evans began playing classical violin at the age of 7. At 12 she began expanding her range of fiddling styles in West Virginia from classical to blues, traditional Irish, Afro-Cuban, jazz, and bluegrass. After attending the University of Maryland for 2 1/2 years as a Music Performance major, Corrin left school to study violin privately in Berlin, Germany with Simone Bernardini of the Berliner Philharminker.

Over the years Corrin has studied with Kamau Kenyatta, Simone Bernardini, James Stern, Winifred Horan, Kevin Burke, Fred Johnson, Alison Radcliffe, Andra Faye, David Salness, Jesse Smith, Jesse Milnes, Willy Kelly, Richard Smith, and Omar al-Musfi. Most recently she has played with the Fred Johnson Ensemble, an improvisational African/jazz duo in Chicago, as a violinist and vocalist.

Neil has been playing drum - doumbek and djembe - for 7 years and has, in the past year, added rhythm and bass guitar to his repertoire. He has studied with various teachers over the years including the Middle Eastern doumbek player Souhail Kasper.

Neil first became acquainted with Mark Varelas, and E Muzeki, in April 2003 and later performed drum with E Muzeki at the Texas Renaissance Festival and at other local performances in 2004 and 2006 and bass guitar with the group at TRF 2007.

From 2006 to 2007 Neil played with Pseudo Buddha, San Antonio's premiere "Psychedelic Fusion World Music" band. In September and October 2006 he also performed congas, tabla, djembe, and auxiliary percussion for the Josephine Theatre's production of "Do Not Pass Me By" and has, throughout his music career, performed with various belly dance troupes around the country.

Neil has come to Wine and Alchemy as the group's Rhythm Guitarist and Drummer.

Born in Houston, Luigi, became interested in World Music as a "wee lad" of about 6 years old, attending Highland shows and Irish music events with his parents.

Among the instruments Luigi has studied are Dumbek, Djembe, Kit Drums, Guitar and Mandolin. He performed with E Muzeki at the Texas Renaissance Festival in 2006 and 2007 and has recently joined Wine and Alchemy's lineup utilizing his many skills.