ALUMNI UPDATE: JESSE TATUM

Posted on October 21, 2020

A CAREER IN MUSIC & SOCIAL WORK
By Jesse Tatum (Prep 1995-1996, PYP 1996-1997)

Playing in PYP under Huw Edwards inspired me to pursue music as a career. I graduated from The San Francisco Conservatory with a degree in Flute Performance, then received my Master’s in Flute Performance at the University of New Mexico.

My first job was Acting Piccolo with the El Paso Symphony, and I freelanced in New Mexico for a while before winning a job as Second Flute with the Santa Fe Symphony. After Acting as Principal for two years with SFS, I was appointed as Principal Flute with the orchestra. I also serve as Principal Flute with Opera Southwest, and am a Principal Player with Chatter, an adventurous chamber group based in Albuquerque, NM. For the past few years, I have been a frequent performer at Meow Wolf, an internationally-celebrated immersive art experience in Santa Fe. For further information on my flute activities, please visit my website jessetatumflute.com.

About 10 years ago, I realized I wanted to do more with my life and went back to school for social work, and completed a Master’s degree in Social Work at New Mexico Highlands University. I am now, in addition to the flute positions, a Clinical Social Worker in private practice.

I see all my interests come together in a connection to people, whether they are audience members or clients, and am grateful for the opportunity to move freely between these career paths. As a result of all my disparate activities, the Santa Fe New Mexican recently published an article about me in the paper’s arts and culture magazine Pasatiempo. I am proud to have had the formative, thrilling experience of making music with PYP, and am honored to be part of the growing PYP family.