Melissa Draper has been playing and loving the violin since she was four years old.  She was thrown into the world of viola at 15 when she performed throughout Europe with the Rocky Mountain Youth Camerata.  She professionally performs and teaches on both instruments.  When Melissa was young, she won many competitions, including MTNA, ASTA, the Utah State Fair, and Stillman-Kelly. Melissa soloed with the Utah Symphony, playing Vieuxtemps Concerto No. 4 when she was 19. She studied violin performance, first at BYU, and then pursued her Masters at Manhattan School of Music. Currently, Melissa works as both a teacher and a freelance musician. Melissa is currently violin/viola faculty at Snow College.  She also maintains her own private studio, is a prolific recording musician, and performs regularly. She has worked extensively for LA East, LDS Motion Picture Studios, and MTPit. Melissa is a regular player for Ballet West and other musical groups in the area. Melissa was also faculty at The Gifted Music School and The Waterford School. Melissa was Director of Artistics for the Stradivarius International Violin Competition in 2007 and 2010.  Melissa feels greatly indebted to all her teachers, including Hiroko Primrose, Debbie Moench, Jack Ashton, Igor and Vesna Gruppman, and Robert and Nicholas Mann. They have greatly enriched her life through their knowledge and skill. When not pursuing music and teaching, Melissa enjoys spending time with her husband and her four young children. 

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