Amelia Drake

Amelia Drake is excited for her first year in the St. Louis Symphony Youth Orchestra! She is in her sixth year playing percussion and is a sophomore honor student at Ladue Horton Watkins High School. In school, she participates in the Symphonic Band, Jazz band, pep band, and percussion ensemble. This summer she participated in the Percussion Intensive program at Interlochen Center for the Arts, where she studied under professional percussionists from across the country. She has been a member of the Young People’s Orchestra Percussion at Community Music School of Webster University (CMS). She also enjoys jazz vibraphone and drum set and participated in the CMS High School Jazz Ensemble.

Besides percussion, Amelia has many interests including running track, baking, and seeing her friends. Amelia has been an active member of her youth group at First Baptist Church of Chesterfield, Jack & Jill of America St. Louis Chapter, and the Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri, where she is in the process of completing her Gold Award.

Growing up, Amelia has been surrounded by music and has been playing piano since she was 6. She gives a special thanks to her father for inspiring her to pursue percussion, as he is a percussionist as well. She thanks all of her family for supporting her musical and academic endeavors, especially her mom, her little sister and her grandparents (Grambee, Papa and G-Mommy). Finally, she wishes to express thanks to her private music instructor Michael Faris and her school percussion director Erin Elstner for pushing her and believing in her.