The talented musician has packed her sevenperiod schedule with four periods of music and is loving it .

Amelie has been playing the piano since she was 8 years old , adding the clarinet , bass clarinet , percussion instruments and the bassoon along the way . She loves the piano the most .

“ I think it ’ s more of an expressive instrument and allows me to explore music more ,” she said .

At Roosevelt High School , she is taking classes in marching band , wind ensemble , percussion and Latin jazz band . She ’ s already made an impression on Taylor Ledak , Roosevelt ’ s director of bands .

“ In the short time I ’ ve known Amelie , I have observed her to be conscientious to her peers and the music ensembles in which she participates . She is eager to try new things in music and approaches them with positivity ,” Ledak said .

“ Amelie has wholly embraced the rigor of our School of the Arts program , and I look forward to what she will achieve in the future .”

Wawona K-8 School music teacher Christopher Clark said Amelie was one of the most dedicated students he has taught . He also observed her talent as part of the Youth Orchestra of Fresno , where he is the violin coach .

“ Not only is Amelie an amazing student-musician , she is a lifelong learner in all subject areas and continuously seeks to improve herself and those around her ,” Clark said .

At Wawona , he watched Amelie encourage other students , recounting one instance where Amelie helped a student who had become upset in class .

“ The reassurance given by Amelie empowered the student in a way that I could not . I am truly proud of Amelie for her courage in this , and many other moments . True leadership .” Clark said .

Amelie is the daughter of Thomas Brittsan , a middle school social science teacher at eLearn Academy , and Gabi Brittsan , a specialist with the Fresno Unified Department of Prevention and Intervention . Her grandmother , Anne Batard , is a former vice principal for Fresno Unified and now a manager in the English Learner Services Department . Her grandmother swayed her to choose Roosevelt over University High School , Amelie said .

While art and music are her first loves , Amelie enjoys math for the quick thinking it requires and English language arts because she can express herself . Her other accomplishments include :

• Student body president at Wawona

• Student of Excellence winner at Wawona

• Middle school district track and field finals champion in both discus and shot put

• Member of the Youth Orchestra of Fresno

• Fresno-Madera County Music Educators Association Middle School Honors Band ( bassoon section leader )

• Invited to attend the FOOSA Fresno Summer Orchestra Academy

• Rugby player

• Finalist at the Middle School Tournament of Technology for the advertisement her team designed for her grandfather ’ s catering business

• 4.0 student

She plans to pursue student leadership at Roosevelt , as well as compete in the shot put and discus . Although only a high school freshman , she is interested in a career in music therapy .

“ I really like the idea of that right now ,” Amelie said .

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