Tanner Leonardo currently teaches at East Texas A&M University as Adjunct Professor of Percussion. He holds a Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the University of Kentucky, a Master of Performance from Morehead State University as well as a Bachelor of Music in Music Performance from the University of Louisville. As a composer, educator, performer, and audio-engineer, Tanner finds himself demonstrating his talents across multiple facets of music.

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Tanner’s professional career spans a wide array of roles including music arranger, adjudicator, and clinician. His marching percussion arrangements have been featured in Bands of America competitions, winning at Grand Nationals, and have contributed to numerous state championships. His compositions for percussion ensembles have been performed on an international stage, with his 2020 piece premiering at The Conservatoire de Musique de Grasse in France. Known for his innovative teaching and passion for advancing music technology, Tanner has presented multiple clinics and co-produced a virtual session for the prestigious Percussive Arts Society International Convention (PASIC).

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A recognized expert in live sound design and audio engineering, Tanner’s work includes audio engineering for elite drum corps such as the Blue Knights, Phantom Regiment, Troopers, and Santa Clara Vanguard. His meticulous attention to audio production extends beyond the marching arts, having most recently served as Music Producer for The Collected Few Dance Project, a modern dance company in Lexington, KY, where he developed and produced the original score for their program Veil of Perception.

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Tanner’s performance background is rooted in his extensive experience as a percussionist. He has performed with a variety of ensembles, including chamber groups, orchestras, and contemporary percussion ensembles, showcasing his versatility across different genres. His work with the A/Tonal Ensemble, a contemporary chamber group, has been a key part of his career, where he contributed to performances blending experimental and new music. His background in both traditional and innovative performance settings have deepened his understanding of how to bridge live performance and sound design, allowing him to integrate acoustic and electronic elements.

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Performing ensembles of which he has been a member include the Louisville Orchestra, Cave Run Symphony Orchestra, Commonwealth Brass Band, Louisville Philharmonia, Orchestra Enigmatic, Music City Drum & Bugle Corps, Louisville Winds, Walden Theater Opera Co., and a wide variety of collegiate ensembles. He has performed at both the World Association of Symphonic Bands & Ensembles Conference in San Jose, California and the Sandy Feldstein Percussion Festival in Indianapolis, Indiana.  He regularly performs with A/tonal Chamber Ensemble, and also maintains a freelance performing schedule in the Louisville area. In 2018 he had the opportunity to conduct a self-composed piece for the KMEA District 5 ‘All-District’ Percussion Ensemble.