Melissa Draper has been playing and loving the violin since she was four years old. She has won many competitions including MTNA, ASTA, the Utah State Fair, and Stillman-Kelly. 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 proficient on violin and viola and often records for groups such as LA East, LDS Motion Picture Studios and MTPit. Melissa is a regular player for Ballet West and other musical groups in the area. Melissa has been faculty at The Gifted Music School and The Waterford School; however, she is currently focused on her private studio and professional performance. 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.