By David Kennedy, Smyrna Breeze and The Edge Editor

Amanda Brooke Quimby practices one of her original songs Sunday at her home in Edgewater. The 15-year-old New Smyrna Beach High School student has been playing more and more gigs on the local music scene.

Amanda Brooke Quimby calls her foray into music inevitable.

Hearing her voice and knowing her path only leads credence to that, however, this 15-year-old has something most her age lack – confidence and a belief in what she wants to do with her life – and that is music.

“I knew that when I was born,” she said Sunday from her home in Edgewater. “I knew that was what I was going to do with my life. It didn’t take an open mic night to realize that.”

However, the open mic nights didn’t hurt either.

The sophomore at New Smyrna Beach High School has sung at open mic nights since she was 12. Three years later, with the help of her supportive parents, she and her acoustic guitar have become regulars on the New Smyrna Beach music scene earning money singing instead of ringing up groceries.

“I guess for my age it’s not common, but it’s cool,” Quimby said. “To find what you want to do with your life at this age is amazing.”

She often plays four-hour sets, which include more than half dozen original songs mixed in with covers form Bon Jovi, Matchbox 20, and others. Her brand of music is a mix of acoustic rock and pop.

Amazing as it may be, Quimby’s talent and passion for music showed at a young age, according to her parents, Mary and Tige Quimby.

“(Music is) all she wanted to do,” her mom said. “Even when she was a baby she woudl hit the stereo until I put it on.”

Her dad recalls similar episodes, like the time she sang “baby talk” in the car before she even knew her first word. Despite her overwhelming knack for music, Quimby’s parents let her grow slowly before ever letting her sing in front of a crowd alone. She started out singing in the church choir, but after she won a karaoke contest at Rich’s Place at age 9, her fate seemed set.

That’s when the hours of practice began. Quimby hones her guitar skills and grew into her voice, all while maintaining her self. She maintains straight As in school and said she plans to study music in college.

Her attitude and work ethic toward her craft have helped her tremendously, her dad said.

“That’s the difference,” he said. “If she was doing this haphazardly, we wouldn’t support her, but she lives, eats, and breathes this.”

She skipped her first high school homecoming as a freshman last year to play a gig. She’ll often lie on her back on her bed to play guitar while tapping notes on her keyboard with her feet – searching for the right melody.

Quimby said she hopes ot sign a major record deal one day, but would be happy just practicing her craft anywhere.

“I want to be signed, but if I’m just doing music – on a cruise ship or restaurant – if I’m just doing music, I’m fine with that,” she said.

She knows this because of the feeling she got after singing for a crowd for hte first time – at the old Coffee Bean restaurant on the beachside.

“I didn’t know I was going to sing that day,” she said. “I was nervous but as soon as I went up there and played my two songs, I was hooked.”

David Kennedy is the editor of The Observer Newspapers, which include The Observer, Smyrna Breeze, and The Edge.