Courses Taught
Conservatory Engage
Professional Fundamentals
Education
Master's Degrees in English, Psychology and Philosophy from the University of Vienna
BM, Jazz Drums from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music
Ensembles
Amelie Anna performs with her own ensemble throughout the Bay Area
Works with Martin Luther McCoy (percussion and backing vocals)
Percussionist and vocalist for The Blind Bandits
What is your hometown?
Vienna, Austria
What are you passionate about outside of music?
CATS! ahem. sorry. I do love cats.. maybe a little too much.
I am an avid (Playstation) gamer girl, currently jumping and slashing my way through "Witcher 3", "Kena - Bridge of Spirits" and itching for "Horizon - Forbidden West" and "God of War - Ragnarök"
I love cooking and baking, particularly when I'm able to share it with others.
Who were your major teachers?
Herwig Stieger, Gerhard Reiter, Carmen Bradford, Carlos Caro and Jake Nissly - THANK YOU!!!
What is a favorite quote that you repeatedly tell students?
"You don't need to know everything. You just need to know where to look it up." (Stole that one from my dad)
"When you no longer need me for anything, that's when I've done my job well."
What was the defining moment when you decided to pursue music as a career?
When I came to the United States in 2016, got accepted into SFCM and realized that I could actually do this for a living.
What was a turning point in your career?
When Warren Wolf allowed me to sing on one of his tunes at SFJAZZ. That opened up a whole new world of opportunities for me.
What is your daily practice routine?
Vocal warm-up in the morning, dynamic stretches of my arms (to keep my injury from flaring up and physically warm me up for drumming)
If I can do only one thing on any given day, I work on my sounds/technique on hand drums.
If you could play only three composers for the rest of your life, who would they be?
Stevie Wonder
Cole Porter
Chopin
From a music history perspective, what year and city are most important to you?
(West) Africa - the traditional rhythms and melodies still shape every single note played today.
What are your most important collaborations?
Every collaboration, especially working on Soundtracks, allows me to put on a different musical costume and bring out a whole new side of me.
For me personally, everything I've ever done with Mia Pixley has been immensely influential and important for me on an emotional and musical level.
Working with Martin Luther McCoy has allowed me to find my way back to funk/soul/RnB. This is where I feel most at home.
What recordings can we hear you on?
Mia Pixley - Mama's Got Snacks (backing vocals)
Mia Pixley - Watering Hole (backing vocals)
Amelie Anna - Promise
Amelie Anna - Zarah
Roots, Jazz, and American Music