Biography

Amelia Baisden studies cello with Dr. Daniel Levitov in Baltimore, MD and has been a member of Peabody Performance Academy for Strings since 2021. She is the youngest member and principal cellist of Maryland Classic Youth Orchestras’ Philharmonic and has previously held principal positions across various regional youth orchestras and ensembles, including DC Youth Orchestra Program, American Youth Philharmonic Orchestras, and Peabody Youth Orchestra, with whom she performed Korngold Concerto in the 2025 Concerto Extravaganza concert program as Grand Prize Winner of the 2024 Advanced Concerto Competition. At Peabody Preparatory, she has previously performed in Silver, Shared, and Honors recitals. She has performed at Carnegie Hall, by invitation of the U.S. Secretary of Education at the 2023 International Summit on the Teaching Profession Gala, and as a concerto soloist with Accord Symphony, Peabody Youth Orchestra, and Württembergische Philharmonie Reutlingen. As an auditioned solo performance member of the Friday Morning Music Club, she frequently performs by invitation at various venues across District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia as part of the public Chamber Music Series and is also a member of FMMC’s Avanti Orchestra. In addition to frequent 1st Prize competition wins, she has received several special prizes, including “Misbin Family New Talent” Award (Joseph and Goldie Feder Memorial String Competition, 2020), “Most Promising Talent” Award (Amit Peled’s Mount Vernon Virtuosi Cello Competition, 2020), “Judges’ Distinction” Award (American Protégé International Concerto Competition, 2021), and Performance Award (Peabody Preparatory, 2022-2025). She represented the District of Columbia at the Eastern, Division of the 2024 Music Teachers National Association Junior Performance Competition and was selected as an active participant at the 2024 Cello Masterclasses in Kronberg, Germany, studying with Marie-Elisabeth Hecker, giving a Fringe concert performance by invitation at Stadthalle of the Kronberg Academy, and receiving a Scholarship Award towards future studies in Kronberg in 2026. Most recently, she was selected as an active participant in the studio of Marc Coppey and as soloist in the final concert at the 2025 Cello Akademie in Rutesheim, Germany. She has participated in cello lessons and masterclasses with Julie Albers, Nick Canellakis, Anna Clift, Amir Eldan, David Finckel, Marie-Elisabeth Hecker, Peter Howard, Christopher Hutton, Yeesun Kim, John Koen, Eric Kutz, Thomas Mesa, Hai-Ye Ni, Hannah Roberts, Alan Stepansky, Larry Stomberg, and Erina Yashima. She spent past summers at Heifetz International Music Institute, Music@Menlo Young Performers Program, and Morningside Music Bridge.