About Katy Tessman
A mother, singer-songwriter, author, and breast cancer survivor, Katy aims to help people find strength, courage, and optimism.
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Optimistic and approachable, Katy Tessman’s songwriting resonates with the wisdom she’s gained through cancer survival, heartbreak, and motherhood. Her powerful vocals and rhythmic approach to guitar (or mandolin) create a heartfelt and diverse musical experience that is uplifting and inspiring. Engaged in outreach, Katy shares her story, talent, and positivity, offering comfort to others.
Books and music have always taken center stage in Katy Tessman's life. Growing up in the Twin Cities, Katy sang in choirs and musicals. After graduating from Minnesota State University-Moorhead with a B.A. in Speech Communication (and a resume of roles in several musical theatre productions), Katy picked up the guitar, and later the mandolin, and started songwriting. In 2001, Katy recorded an album of 11 original songs. Before becoming a mother in 2003, and again in 2006, Katy went on two national tours. Katy Tessman is the author of "Our Mama is a Beautiful Garden" a breast cancer book for children. She was named CHANGEMAKER by The Minnesota Women’s Press, received the Mom’s Choice Awards GOLD MEDAL and Moonbeam Children's Book Awards SILVER MEDAL. A decade after her cancer diagnosis, Katy wrote a song that sums up the everyday-hero’s journey and published the accompanying lyric picture book, “Hero Now Crowned.” Stories and songs truly heal and her aim is to evoke laughter and tears, spread smiles, and foster a sense of hope and togetherness. |
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Outreach
Sharing her story, talent, and positivity to those who need it:
- As a spokesmodel for the Breast Cancer Superhero Portrait Project, Katy supports artist Barbara Portwit at community events.
- Young Survivor of breast Cancer, Katy was invited to speak at the Young Survivor Coalition's monthly in-person support meeting in May 2023 hosted by Gilda's Club - Twin Cities.
- In March 2023, Katy sang her songs, talked about books, and played games with The Dude on Star Studio's closed circuit television program at Children's Hospitals in Minneapolis and St. Paul.
- During Lent 2023, Katy was the guest speaker and performer at Gethsemane Lutheran Church in Hopkins.
- In October 2022, Katy and her band hosted a fundraiser for the Angel Foundation and performed to a sold out audience at the 318 Cafe in Excelsior.
In October 2022, to celebrate her 13th year of being cancer-free, Katy and her band performed at the 318 Cafe in Excelsior. The funds raised from ticket sales, along with donations received via social media fundraiser, Katy meet her goal of $1000. In addition, 10 donation copies of her book were purchased. Pictured are Katy Tessman with Jim Thurbis at the Angle Foundation headquarters in Mendota Heights.
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In October 2009, Katy was diagnosed with breast cancer; her two sons were ages 3 and 6 years old. Katy has fought the battle of her life -- finishing the fight with children who stayed optimistic gave her the courage to have confidence in being victorious. Inspired by Katy's battle, artist Barbara Porwit created a larger-than-life painting of Katy as Wonder Woman for her Breast Cancer Superheroes portrait series.
Katy thoroughly enjoyed taking Music Together classes with her two sons when they were young. So much so, she was a Music Together teacher from 2012-2015. Motherhood changed the focus of Katy's music-making and she performed annual classroom concerts for her boys' classmates. At their home in Minnesota, Katy and her family make all kinds of music together.
As a devoted literacy champion, Katy directed the summer reading program at her two sons’ school, Gatewood Elementary in Hopkins Schools called Book Buddies. Katy is passionate about helping schools transform their libraries to be future-ready media centers. Katy loves building relevant and diverse book collections for schools to provide windows and mirrors for students. Katy coordinated the first MakerSpace in the Media Center at Robbinsdale Armstrong High School. Katy believes in the importance of providing an outlet for students to fuel engagement, creativity, and curiosity. Read more about how Katy developed a Makerspace in an urban high school's Media Center. Read Katy's Blog about being a mom of two active boys, musician, educator, breast cancer survivor, and children's book author. Katy writes articles about literacy, school library transformation, and the maker movement.
Katy thoroughly enjoyed taking Music Together classes with her two sons when they were young. So much so, she was a Music Together teacher from 2012-2015. Motherhood changed the focus of Katy's music-making and she performed annual classroom concerts for her boys' classmates. At their home in Minnesota, Katy and her family make all kinds of music together.
As a devoted literacy champion, Katy directed the summer reading program at her two sons’ school, Gatewood Elementary in Hopkins Schools called Book Buddies. Katy is passionate about helping schools transform their libraries to be future-ready media centers. Katy loves building relevant and diverse book collections for schools to provide windows and mirrors for students. Katy coordinated the first MakerSpace in the Media Center at Robbinsdale Armstrong High School. Katy believes in the importance of providing an outlet for students to fuel engagement, creativity, and curiosity. Read more about how Katy developed a Makerspace in an urban high school's Media Center. Read Katy's Blog about being a mom of two active boys, musician, educator, breast cancer survivor, and children's book author. Katy writes articles about literacy, school library transformation, and the maker movement.
