Biography

Donovan Boxey is a multi-instrumentalist, composer and improviser from Michigan. He began his studies of the saxophone with Matthew Shephard at Meridian Public Schools and continued in higher education earning a Bachelor's of Music Education at Central Michigan University. While at CMU he studied saxophone with John Nichol and jazz & improvisation with Robbie Smith.

Boxey has also studied privately with world renowned bassist John Lindberg and trumpeter Hugh Ragin of the Univiserity of Colorado. In addition to his private studies, Donovan has attended several workshops at the Creative Music Studio where he studied and performed with many guiding artists including Karl Berger, Ingrid Sertso, Billy Martin, Peter Apfelbaum, Ken Filiano, Shelly Hirsch, Arturo O'Farrill, Anthony Coleman, and Ingrid Laubrock.

Donovan has performed and recorded with many ensembles including Northwoods Improvisers, Source of Light and Power, Dr. Prof. Leonard King Orchestra, Triple Play and Dominic Bierenga's Moving Mind Orchestra. In 2017 he released his first duo album with fellow saxophonist Dominic Bierenga titled "As Iron Sharpens Iron." The two were joined on a few tracks by Mike Johnston and Mike Gilmore of the Northwoods Improvisers. His first solo album, "Speaking In Tongues (Solos 2019)" came a few years later and featured a completely solo performance with no overdubs.

Since 2017 Boxey has been a member of the Northwoods Improvisers. He has been featured on three releases. The group is still going strong in its fourth decade under the leadership of founder Mike Johnston and long time member Nick Ashton. They continue to write new and exciting music as well as revive classics from past members including the great Detroit saxophonist Faruq Z. Bey and vibrophonist Mike Gilmore. The current lineup consists of Johnston (bass), Ashton (drums), Boxey (woodwinds), Bierenga (woodwinds), Jack O'Brien (cello, bass) and Mike Khoury (violin, viola). Their latest album, titled "Unified View" was released in Septeber 2025.