Tess Varley is a Philadelphia based violinist who performs with a number of orchestras and ensembles. She is currently Acting Principal Second Violin of the Opera Philadelphia Orchestra and a member of the Pennsylvania Ballet Orchestra, the Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia, and the Delaware Symphony.
Recent orchestral engagements include performances with the Philly Pops, Symphony in C, the Allentown Symphony, and as guest Principal Second of the Reading Symphony. Previous leadership positions include Concertmaster of the Tanglewood Music Center Orchestra with conductor John Williams, Principal Second of the Tanglewood Music Center Orchestra, and Concertmaster of the National Orchestral Institute Festival Orchestra. Tess also performed for two seasons with the Spoleto Festival USA Orchestra and as a substitute with the New World Symphony in Miami.
Tess regularly records for a variety of artists at Milkboy The Studio and can be heard on Bruno Mars and Anderson .Paak’s album “An Evening with Silk Sonic” featuring the Grammy award winning song “Leave the Door Open.” Tess also performed on Mark Ronson’s disco remix of the Elvis Presley hit “Can’t Help Falling in Love” for the 2022 Baz Luhrmann film “Elvis.” As a crossover artist, she has performed with popular artists such as Michael Buble, Kygo, Childish Gambino, Andrea Boccelli, Journey, Celtic Women, Il Volo, and the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. Tess also played on the soundtrack for the Oscar nominated short film The Dam Keeper as a part of the Magik*Magik Orchestra of San Francisco.
As an educator, Tess recently served on the faculty of Settlement Music School’s Music Education Pathways program in Philadelphia and as the Chamber Orchestra director of the Urban School of San Francisco. From 2014-2016, Tess taught violin and chamber music at Lutheran Summer Music Program at Luther College. She currently maintains a private teaching studio in Haverford Township.
Tess received a Bachelor of Music Degree from Boston University and a Master of Music from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. She currently performs on an 1899 Voller Brothers violin. She lives in Havertown with her husband Brenden and daughters Eleanor and Lucy.