Cello teacher

Amanda began playing the cello in 5 th grade after the middle school orchestra came to her elementary school and played the theme song for the Pink Panther. It was a big instrument to carry around, but she loved its rich, deep tones. It also paired beautifully with her dad’s guitar, a duo they both still treasure.At Butler University, Amanda fell in love with the feeling of playing in a full orchestra and had the opportunity to take a course on teaching young children how to play the cello. She started teaching private lessons in 2003 for children, youth, and adults as well as group cello lessons for the Metropolitan Youth Orchestra of Indianapolis. She also started playing in and organizing string trios and quartets for weddings.

After completing a year of AmeriCorps in Washington, DC in 2006, Amanda stayed in the area to work for the Capital Area Food Bank and also began working for the DC Youth Orchestra, teaching group cello lessons on Saturdays as part of the orchestra program there. She continued teaching group and private lessons until her first child was born in 2012. She stepped back from teaching but continued to find
opportunities to play her cello in small ensembles, a band, at churches, and even with the Ottley Music School for a time. Now that her children are older and her Master's program in Library Science is complete, Amanda is excited to return to OMS to share her love of the cello with students again.