Ms. Tessa Gartin is currently self-employed and teaches clarinet private lessons and masterclasses to students between the 6th and 12th grade in San Antonio, Texas. Ms. Gartin started teaching music in 2012. Ms. Gartin previously taught private lessons in the Dallas-Fort Worth area of Texas between 2019-2022 (Mansfield ISD, Birdville ISD and Eagle Mountain Saginaw ISD). While living in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, Ms. Gartin performed with the Mansfield Wind Symphony, under the direction of Brian Merrill, the Northeast Orchestra of Tarrant County and the Texas Chamber Music Project, under the direction of Thomas Connely.

Before teaching private lessons, Ms. Gartin taught in Grapevine-Colleyville ISD at Cross Timbers Middle School as the assistant band director for one year. Before that, in Pearland ISD at Pearland Junior High East and Alexander Middle School as the first assistant band director for two years. Prior to her employment in the Pearland ISD, Ms. Gartin taught at Burnet Middle School and Burnet High School in the Burnet CISD as the middle school assistant band director. Her former responsibilities included directing the Non-Varsity Symphonic Band, assisting with the Honors Band, and teaching beginner woodwind classes.

She grew up in San Antonio, TX and is a graduate of Ronald Reagan High School. There, she graduated Cum Laude in 2009, and served as section leader and principal clarinet player of the RRHS Wind Ensemble and Orchestra. Ms. Gartin was a member of the 2008 TMEA All State Concert Band and the 2009 TMEA All State Symphonic Band. During her high school years, she was also a member of the Youth Orchestra of San Antonio Philharmonic Orchestra and Symphony Orchestra.

Ms. Gartin graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Music Education at Southern Methodist University in 2013. While at SMU, she studied clarinet with Paul Garner and Greg Raden, and performed and traveled with the Wind Ensemble and Symphony Orchestra. She continued her studies and graduated in 2015 with a Masters degree in Music Performance (clarinet) at the University of Maryland under the direction of Robert DiLutis.

Ms. Gartin actively performs with The Heart of Texas Concert Band, under the direction of Dr. Mark Rogers and with the Prickly Pear clarinet ensemble in San Antonio, TX. Ms. Gartin lives in the Stone Oak area of San Antonio, TX with her cat Gershwin and dog Reagan. In her free time she enjoys exercising, spending time with friends and family, trying new recipes and watching TV shows and movies.