Melissa Brooks has been a member of the St. Louis Symphony since 1992 and, Associate Principal Cello since 2005. She is a native of New York City where she attended the pre-college division of the Julliard School. Melissa received her undergraduate degree from the New England Conservatory where she studied with Laurence Lesser.

She has performed chamber and solo concerts throughout the country including a duo concert with cellist Janos Starker and has won numerousawards and honors. In 1988 Melissa Brooks was nominated for an Avery Fisher career grant by Leonard Bernstein. A busy chamber musician, she has participated in festivals such as Marlboro, Tanglewood, Aspen, the Portland Chamber Festival, Concert Artists Guild Summer Festival and the Sun Valley Festival. She has appeared twice as a soloist with the St. Louis Symphony and is a co-founder of the St. Louis based presenting organization, Crossings Concerts. Melissa Brooks plays on an Italian instrument made in 1740.

AAM 040101