Amanda Vache

Amanda Vache is a full-time oboist of the St. Louis Symphony Youth Orchestra for her second year in a row. She will be a sophomore at Lafayette High School and will continue playing as principal oboist of her school’s Wind Ensemble, directed by Mr. Brad Balog. Last season with the YO dramatically improved her playing and appreciation for the classical world around her, and her YO peers continue to inspire her daily.

Vache is incredibly grateful for her instructor, Xiomara Mass, oboist of the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra, for providing her with invaluable insight, opportunities, and a loving environment to develop her skills. Vache would also like to thank her reed instructor, Dr. Laura Guyer Ross, for teaching her the intricacies of reed making and expanding her knowledge of the oboe.

Vache proudly played as the first oboist in the 2024 All Suburban Band, was recognized as the first alternate for the 2025 All State Band, and received a gold medal for her solo performance of Robert Schumann’s Three Romances at Missouri’s State Solo and Ensemble. She will never forget traveling with Webster University’s Youth Person’s Symphonic Orchestra to New York in April 2025 to perform at Carnegie Hall.

Besides music, Vache enjoys eating new foods, playing with her goofy dog Honey, and biking around Saint Louis. She cannot imagine life without music and hopes to continue playing with the YO in the years to come