Amanda Bekeny discovered her passion for orchestral and chamber music as a young trumpet student of her longtime mentor and friend, composer Dr. Jack Gallagher.  After attending The College of Wooster, Dr. Bekeny spent years of intense study in trumpet, orchestral performance, and chamber music.  She holds a Master’s Degree in Trumpet Performance from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she was a student of John Aley and Alan Campbell and was a member of the renowned Wisconsin Brass Quintet.  She earned her Doctor of Musical Arts Degree in Trumpet Performance from The Ohio State University, where, as a student of Timothy Leasure, she was awarded the A. Peter Costanza Award for the most Distinguished DMA Document.  After completing her graduate degrees, she focused her studies on chamber music at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music as a student of David Burkhart and member of the acclaimed New Music Ensemble.

An active performer, Dr. Bekeny is a member of CityMusic Cleveland Chamber Orchestra, Firelands Symphony Orchestra, Diamond Brass Quintet, and co-founded the Olympic Brass Quintet.  Dr. Bekeny serves as a substitute musicians with other arts organizations in Northeast Ohio such as the Akron Symphony and Cleveland Pops Orchestra. 

One of Dr. Bekeny’s passions is sharing her enthusiasm for performing and teaching with her college students at Kent State University and Cleveland State University.  Additionally, Dr. Bekeny serves on the Board of the Rocky River Chamber Music Society, bringing world class chamber music to audiences in Northeast Ohio.  She is an avid runner and enjoys exploring the outdoors with her husband and three children.