Violin

Tess O.B. Reed, born in Houston, TX, has been immersed in music since the age of four, as she
was introduced to the art by her grandmother, the late Dr. Theola Booker. Tess began studying
the violin and piano at age 4. She previously studied with Houston Symphony violinist Katrina
Savitski and spent years under the guidance of the late jazz pianist Carl Gibbs. In 2024, she
graduated with a Distinguished Level of Achievement and Instrumental Certificate from the
Kinder High School for the Performing and Visual Arts (HSPVA).
Throughout her time at HSPVA, her accolades include placing third with her ensemble, the Ensul
Quartet, in the 2023 Kinder HSPVA Chamber Contest and receiving a Merit Award in the
Houston International Music Competition in 2022. Tess also served as both the Principal Second
Violinist and the Concertmaster of the Kinder HSPVA Symphony. She was also featured in a
citywide commercial for the Mayor’s Office promoting COVID-19 vaccinations among youth.
From 2022-2024, she was honored to be selected to attend Sphinx Performance Academy where
she studied at the Cleveland Institute of Music, The Juilliard School, and University of Colorado
Boulder with other talented young Black and Latinx classical musicians from across the country.
Outside of her violin studies, Tess enjoys immersing herself in different areas of leadership. In
2023, she was selected to serve as Production Stage Manager for Kinder HSPVA’s Black History
production of “The Wiz”. Her work earned her recognition as a Stage Management Finalist in
the 2023 Tommy Tune Awards, a prestigious Houston-area theater competition hosted by Theatre
Under The Stars. She has served as a main speaker at the Consortium of State School Boards
Association’s Annual Conference, sharing her experiences in Peer Assistant Leadership and
restorative practices in education with school board members nationwide. Through her roles in
the National Honor Society, as Historian for the Black Student Union, and on the HSPVA
Orchestra Council, Tess has contributed to initiatives that uplift and support her peers and foster
inclusivity within her school.
Tess’s dedication to spreading the joy of music extends into her work as an Assistant Violin
Instructor at the Dr. Theola Booker Fine Arts Camp, where she has been serving as an instructor
since 2019. Currently, Tess is studying violin with acclaimed solo violinist and educator Lynn
Chang at the Boston Conservatory at Berklee, where she began in 2024.
In her free time, Tess enjoys biking, swimming, baking, musical theatre, and mentoring her
younger sisters in music. After graduating with a Bachelor of Music in Violin Performance, Tess
plans to continue her music career, with aspirations to share her artistry with the world and uplift
a new diverse generation of classical musicians.

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