Tessa Ellis works as a freelance musician while studying trumpet at the Eastman School of Music. A Rochester native, she earned a Certificate of Merit from the Eastman Community Music School playing in chamber ensembles and served as principal trumpet in the Rochester Philharmonic Youth Orchestra. At Eastman, she plays in numerous large and chamber ensembles, including a trumpet ensemble that performed at the National Trumpet Competition Semi-Finals in 2011. She is experienced as a wedding musician and has appeared as an ensemble member and a soloist with numerous ensembles in the area.