Imig Music Building, C151
Sterling Tanner is an esteemed performer, educator and clinician currently serving as the assistant professor of trombone at the University of Colorado Boulder.
As an S.E. Shires Performing Artist, Tanner has not only showcased his talents as a soloist across the United States but has also left an indelible mark internationally with notable performances in Hong Kong and Valencia, Spain. His global recognition is further enhanced by his regular performances with esteemed orchestras such as the Boulder Philharmonic, Boulder Chamber Orchestra, Colorado Symphony, Colorado Springs Philharmonic, Richmond Symphony and Opera Colorado. He also performs with the prestigious Professors Trombone Choir each summer at the Southeast Trombone Symposium in Columbus, Georgia.
Several prestigious accolades mark Tanner’s journey as an accomplished soloist. He was the 2016 and 2018 American Trombone Workshop Division III Bass Trombone Solo Competition winner and the 2015 Southeastern Trombone Symposium S.E. Shires Solo Competition winner. His talent was further recognized as a finalist in the 2016 International Trombone Festival's Donald Yaxley Solo Competition. Tanner has had the privilege of performing alongside renowned trombonists, including Jim Markey, Charlie Vernon, Denson Paul Pollard, George Curran, Joseph Alessi, Bill Thomas, Brian Hecht and Gerry Pagano. From 2010 to 2014, he was part of a unique recording project at Columbus State University which led to the Summit Records release “A Beautiful Noise” featuring various trombone artists performing solo works with a trombone ensemble.
A native of Birmingham, Alabama, Tanner earned a bachelor’s degree in music education from Columbus State University as well as MM and DMA degrees in trombone performance from the University of Texas at Austin where he studied under Bradley Palmer and Nathaniel Brickens. He is a member of the American Federation of Musicians, the International Trombone Association, the Colorado Music Educators Association, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia and the National Association for Music Education.