Chicago-born flutist Tessa Vermeulen is Associate Principal/Second Flute of the Alabama Symphony and has received national recognition as both an orchestral and solo artist. She has performed with both the New York Philharmonic and the Baltimore Symphony. During her summers, she has had fellowships with the Music Academy of the West, the National Repertory Orchestra, and the NSO Summer Music Institute. As a solo artist, Tessa performed in the National Flute Association’s 2024 Convention and has won or placed in flute competitions across the U.S., including Kansas, Wisconsin, Philadelphia, South Carolina, and the National Flute Association. She has also appeared as a concerto soloist with the Lakeview, Oak Park River Forest, and Oistrakh Symphony Orchestras. At the age of 17, she was featured on Chicago’s classical radio station, WFMT. Tessa obtained her bachelor’s degree from Carnegie Mellon University, studying with Alberto Almarza, and her master’s from the Juilliard School with Robert Langevin. Alongside her musical career, Tessa is a visual artist specializing in 2D multimedia. The National Flute Association commissioned her to create the official artwork for the 2024 convention.