Amanda Drinkwater is in her second year as Director of Bands and fourth 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, where she graduated from E.D. White Catholic High School.

   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 eleventh 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, the Marcus Wind Ensemble was named a TMEA Honor Band Finalist.  Her marching groups have earned six consecutive trips to the 5A Texas State UIL Marching Contest and have been consistent Bands of America finalists and recipients of various caption honors.  In November 2006 the Marcus Marching Band was named the 5A UIL Texas State Marching Champion.

      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 Texas Bandmasters Association.  She is an active clinician, adjudicator, and designer 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, Tom Bennett, James C. Barnes, Robert E. Foster, Easton LeBoeuf, Linda Moorhouse, Scott Watson, Larry Campbell, Dennis Hopkins, Kennan Wylie, Sally Masterson, and Dr. Tim Lautzenheiser.