Photo Credit: Bill Elder

Ms. Amanda Tant is a musician and educator based in Western North Carolina. Since 2014, she has served as the Orchestra Director at Hendersonville Middle and High Schools, developing a comprehensive program for students in grades 6-12. Additionally, she is the Assistant Music Director of the Asheville Symphony Youth Orchestras and conductor of the Sinfonia String Orchestra. 

An experienced conductor and clinician, she enjoys working in a variety of settings including all county and regional festivals, musicals, and summer camps. She is a section violist with the Hendersonville Symphony and Brevard Philharmonic orchestras.

Ms. Tant is an active member of the National Association for Music Education, currently serving as Chair of the North Carolina Western Region Orchestra Section. She also sits on the Hendersonville Symphony Orchestra Board, leading the Education Committee which oversees the youth ensembles and annual Young Artist Competition. 

Her professional contributions have been recognized as an honoree for the North Carolina Symphony’s Jackson Parkhurst Award for Special Achievement (2025), NCMEA Western Region Orchestra Teacher of the Year (2024) and Hendersonville High School’s Teacher of the Year (2020-2021). She is an alumna of the NC Teaching Fellows Program, graduating from Appalachian State University with a Bachelor of Music Education. 

Outside of her professional commitments, she enjoys exploring the natural beauty of Western North Carolina, learning fiddle tunes, and experimenting with new recipes. Ms. Tant resides in Hendersonville, NC with her family.