Amanda Drinkwater is in her sixth year as Director of Bands and eighth year overall at Marcus High School. Her responsibilities include direction of the Marcus Wind Symphony and the Marcus Marching Band. A pianist and brass specialist, Ms. Drinkwater is a native of Thibodaux, Louisiana.
Ms. Drinkwater received her academic training at Louisiana State University and at the University of Kansas in Music Education and Instrumental Conducting, respectively. She is in her sixteenth year as a Texas music educator, with previous teaching opportunities served at Leander High School (TX) from 1996-2001, and The Colony High School (TX) from 2001-2003.
Ms. Drinkwater’s concert ensembles have received exclusively superior division ratings at the University Interscholastic League Concert & Sightreading contests, and have earned distinction as "Best in Class" at various regional concert festivals. In 2006, 2008, and 2010 the Marcus Wind Symphony was named a TMEA Honor Band Finalist. The Wind Symphony was a featured ensemble at the Midwest Band and Orchestra clinic in 2007 and has been recognized as a National Wind Band Honors finalist. Ms. Drinkwater’s marching ensembles have earned seven consecutive trips to the 5A Texas State UIL Marching Contest and have been consistent Bands of America finalists and recipients of various caption honors, including the Outstanding Music Caption at the 2009 Bands of America Grand Nationals Championships. In 2006 and 2008 the Marcus Marching Band earned the 5A UIL Texas State Marching Championship. In 2008, the Marcus Marching Band was the recipient of the John Philip Sousa Sudler Shield award for excellence in marching band performance.
Ms. Drinkwater has been named five times to "Who's Who Among America's Teachers", and is a member of Texas Music Educators Association and the Texas Bandmasters Association. She was selected as Marcus High School Teacher of the Year in 2007. In 2009, she was the recipient of the Music Educators National Conference "Excellence in Teaching Music" Award. She is an active clinician and adjudicator for indoor and outdoor performing ensembles.
Ms. Drinkwater's primary personal and professional influences have included her father and mother, Gary and Karen Drinkwater, her sister, Allison Drinkwater Johnson, Frank B. Wickes, Dr. Linda R. Moorhouse, Tom Bennett, John Whitwell, James C. Barnes, Robert E. Foster, Easton LeBoeuf, Scott Watson, Larry Campbell, Dennis Hopkins, Sally Masterson, Beverly Stafford and Dr. Tim Lautzenheiser.