Paul Tanner – Chair of Percussion at the Conservatorium of Music (University of Western Australia) – is the Principal Percussionist of the Perth Symphony Orchestra and plays frequently with the West Australian Symphony Orchestra. He has spent years performing in a variety of musical situations, including solo performances, new-music ensembles, jazz combos, Latin bands, world-music groups and other freelance ensembles.
Whilst completing his Masters Degree, Paul studied with new-music guru, Steven Schick in San Diego, before travelling through Central and South America to gain insight into other percussive music traditions. Furthering his interest in other musical cultures, he has travelled through West Africa and Zimbabwe.
Paul completed his PhD at the West Australian Academy of Performing Arts (Edith Cowan University), examining and creating repertoire for one player performing marimba and vibraphone simultaneously. You can find a complete YouTube playlist of marimba-vibe solos HERE.
Paul has performed throughout Australia and South-East Asia for Musica Viva; in Australia and the UK with OgdenTanner ; with diverse groups at the Adelaide, Sydney, and Perth International Arts Festivals; at Darwin’s Bougainvillea and International Guitar Festivals; and recently toured the east coast of Australia with New York’s Bang on a Can All-Stars. Current ensembles include the Mix’t Trio (sax, piano and percussion) and WindQuintetPlus.