Jess studied at Temple University as a music education student with a concentration in French horn. She then transferred to Butler University where she continued her studies in Recording Industry Studies. She marched competitively with the Reading Buccaneers from 2007-2012 and 2018 on both Mellophone and Tuba. She has taught instrumental music privately, classroom settings, and on the band field for various programs including Upper Moreland High School Marching Unit (Willow Grove, PA), Abington Senior High School Marching Ghosts (Abington, PA) and Council Rock High School South Marching Band (Holland, PA). She has been doing competition soundtrack editing and show design since 2011 for various competitive Winterguards/indoor colorguards throughout the region including Polaris Winterguard and Spring-Ford High School. Jess has been adjudicating the marching arts since the indoor season of 2015 and in addition to teaching hopes to encourage students in their musical/marching pursuits.