Born in the Philippines, Amelia moved to San Francisco with her family in the late 70's and began her musical studies at age five on piano and violin. She transitioned to the alto saxophone at 11 and never looked back.

Residing in San Francisco for almost thirty years, she has studied with some of the Bay Area's most formidable talents. After earning her BA in Music Performance from CSU Hayward in 1999, Amelia entered the music scene and has since been an active freelance saxophone player.

In addition to appearances with Bay Area groups—including the Montclair Women's Big Band directed by Ellen Seeling, Orquesta Sensual, Cha Cha Boom, Orquesta D'Soul, Tito Garcia y Su Orquesta La Internacional, Contemporary Jazz Orchestra, Collective West Jazz Orchestra, Carma Big Band, Realistic Orchestra, Orquesta Soroa and the Sal Carson Big Band—she has performed with Patti Labelle, The Temptations, Louie Bellson, Vicki Randle, The Family Stone, The Dells, The Four Tops and Conrad Herwig.