Jessica Petrasek

Jessica Petrasek lives in Atlanta, where she is Lecturer in Flute at Georgia State University. She prides herself in producing well-rounded, collegial students who can independently diagnose and solve problems. Jessica’s pedagogical ethos came primarily from her teacher growing up, Tal Perkes, who was Principal Flute of the San Antonio Symphony. Lessons with Tal often included discussions about literature, architecture, language, and painting. Under Tal’s tutelage, Jessica was on NPR’s “From the Top,” became a Presidential Scholar in the Arts, was a Miyazawa Flutes Emerging Artist, and won the National Foundation of the Advancement of the Arts YoungARTS Silver Award. Tal helped Jessica achieve many other opportunities, such as a solo performance at the Kennedy Center and a fellowship at the Tanglewood Music Center at age 18.

Tal’s interdisciplinary approach helped lead Jessica to major in Classics at Princeton, where she did things like translate the Odyssey, the Aeneid, and Daphnis and Chloe, while obtaining a Certificate in Music Performance, studying under the wonderful Jayn Rosenfeld. At Princeton, Jessica was awarded the honor of University Scholar (for students pursuing a career in the arts) and the Isidore and Helen Sacks Memorial Prize in Music.

Jessica went on to receive her Master of Music from Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music, studying with the legendary Leone Buyse. After Rice, she got her first job as Principal Flute of the Wichita Symphony Orchestra and won Third Prize and “Best Performance of a Newly Commissioned Work” in the National Flute Association Young Artist Competition.

Since then, Jessica has performed all over the world in solo, chamber, and orchestra concerts. She especially enjoys her chamber opportunities, which allow her to connect with colleagues on a more musically intimate level. She is a founding member of Hera Trio with Lara Dahl (oboe) and Miya Sun (piano). Jessica is a member of the EPIC Woodwind Quintet and Classical Remix Chamber Festival, and is one half of the Petrasek Duo with her husband, Joe Petrasek, Principal Percussionist of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra.

Jessica has been a finalist in many ICSOM orchestra auditions, and enjoys sharing her audition expertise with her students. She has developed a unique approach to auditions, which utilizes a blend of practice planning and prep, mental and physical strategies, and sports psychology techniques to help flutists maximize their audition potential. Jessica is currently Assistant Principal Flute of the Colorado Music Festival in Boulder and Piccolo of the Columbus Symphony Orchestra in Georgia. She has held the positions of Principal Flute of the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra, Piccolo of the Kansas City Symphony, Assistant Principal Flute of the Central City Opera Orchestra, and Piccolo and 2nd Flute of the Sarasota Opera Orchestra. Jessica has a young daughter who shares her parents’ love of music, food, and animals. Jessica and her daughter can often be found at the barn caring for and riding their horse, Rav.