The Blue Knights Percussion Ensemble is thrilled to announce the addition of Shane Gwaltney and Tanner Leonardo to the 2025 Design Team!
Shane Gwaltney joins as Battery Arranger & Program Coordinator.
Shane is an accomplished Program Coordinator, Visual Designer, and Battery Arranger in the Music and Visual Arts. As a charter member of Music City Mystique (McM), Shane has played a pivotal role in the ensemble’s success for over 30 years, helping to shape its legacy in the indoor percussion community.
“We are thrilled to have Shane Gwaltney join the design team as Battery Arranger & Program Coordinator!” states Keenan Evans, Director of the Blue Knights Percussion Ensemble. “Shane’s work with Music City Mystique and groups across the marching percussion activity has been a driving force in the development of WGI, spurring innovation and creative vision across the activity. With Blue Knights and McM being the two oldest independent percussion ensembles in WGI, having a storied history from the inception of the percussion activity within WGI, we are honored to have Shane join our design team for the 2025 season.”
Currently, Shane serves as the Program Coordinator, Battery Arranger, and Visual Designer for McM, and holds the roles of Program Coordinator and Battery Arranger for Music City Drum and Bugle Corps. In addition, he teaches and designs for Ravenwood High School and is the lead designer for Synced Up Designs, collaborating with various high school and independent WGI ensembles across the country.
Shane has also contributed his talents to renowned ensembles in DCI, having arranged and designed for Southwind, Spirit of Atlanta, and Phantom Regiment, and now Music City. His dedication to the art form is driven by the passion and energy of the students and programs he works with.
As a founder and owner of Synced Up Designs, Shane continues to push creative boundaries in the marching arts, contributing to the company’s reputation as a leading production company in the music and visual arts community.
In addition to Shane, the Blue Knights are also excited to welcome Tanner Leonardo as their new Front Ensemble Arranger and Sound Designer.
“We are very excited to have Tanner joining the design team as Front Ensemble Arranger & Sound Designer,” states Keenan Evans. “His wide breadth of experience across the performing arts space will be an instrumental part of providing an enhanced member experience. We are looking forward to his involvement with the Blue Knights family!”
Tanner Leonardo is an accomplished percussionist and educator based in Dallas, TX, currently serving as an Adjunct Instructor of Percussion at Texas A&M University-Commerce. There, he teaches percussion ensemble, music technology, marching percussion, and private lessons. With a Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Kentucky, a Master of Music Performance from Morehead State University, and a Bachelor of Music in Performance from the University of Louisville, Tanner brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in performance and technology to his students.
Tanner’s ensemble performances at Texas A&M University Commerce are a unique fusion of music, technology, and visual art. There, he has led the Percussion Ensemble, II, III, and the Experimental Music Ensemble. These performances often feature educational collaborations with composers, incorporating new works that push the boundaries of traditional performance. By integrating electronic elements, live sound manipulation, and lighting design, Tanner’s ensemble creates immersive, multimedia experiences that captivate audiences. Each performance is thoughtfully designed to combine music with visual and technological components, offering audiences a compelling exploration of modern performance.
Tanner’s professional career spans a wide array of roles including music arranger, adjudicator, and clinician. His marching percussion arrangements have been featured in BOA 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).
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.
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.
Tanner continues to be a leading figure in the intersection of music performance and technology, known for his innovative approach to sound design, composition, and music education.
As the Blue Knights Percussion Ensemble continues to build towards a groundbreaking 2025 season, the additions of Shane Gwaltney and Tanner Leonardo mark a significant step forward in both artistic leadership and technical innovation. The entire Blue Knights organization looks forward to the creative energy and expertise these two will bring to the ensemble.