Melinda Ellis is a passionate music educator, multi-instrumentalist, and conductor living and working in the greater Bay Area. Originally from New Jersey, Melinda holds a BM in Music Education and Viola Performance and an MM in Viola Performance from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. She currently works for the Vacaville Unified School District, teaching 4th-grade general music, 5th and 6th-grade strings classes, and also serves as the District Music Coordinator. Outside of her teaching job, Melinda is an active freelancing multi-instrumentalist. She plays with several local ensembles and sits as principal second violin with the Napa Valley Chamber Orchestra. She plays tenor saxophone in the Solano Winds Community Concert Band and saxophone ensemble, is the Assistant Conductor of the Golden Gate Symphony, and sits in their viola section. Melinda is also the Resident Conductor for Missouri Street Theatre Company in Fairfield, where she conducts several large professional musical productions each season, as well as galas and concerts.
