Amelia Barrett grew up in Colorado Springs, graduating from Doherty High School in 1994. During those years she accompanied many of the junior high and senior high choirs. For eight years she was a participant in the Guild Auditions and Sonatina Festivals as a piano soloist. After coming to Fort Lewis College in Durango, she studied with Norman Krieger and Ying Ying Liu.

Amy graduated in December 1997 from Fort Lewis College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Education. She sang with the Fort Lewis Concert Choir for four years. During her senior year, she served as Choir President and Assistant Director. It was also during her senior year that she became Music Director of the Durango Barbershoppers. As such, she is one of a very few women directors in an all-male singing society.  Amy teaches 6th, 7th and 8th grade choir and orchestra at Heights Middle School in Farmington, New Mexico. Her choirs and orchestras have consistently received Superior ratings at music concerts. In addition, she is responsible for the 6th grade Music Experience classes.

Amy is a member of the American Choral Directors Association as well as the New Mexico Music Educators Association, and has served as a clinician with the Farmington Honor Orchestra Festival. Last year, she received the Red Apple Teacher's Award, an honor given by the nomination of her students.