About Tanner
Dr. Tanner Harrod (b. 1995) is a composer and performer based in Southeast Nebraska. Originally from Murphy, Texas, Harrod is Assistant Professor of Music at Peru (NE) State College, where he teaches music theory and general music courses. His scholarship is focused on musical theatre analysis, music theory pedagogy, and the intersections of these two subfields. His work on teaching counterpoint through musical theatre repertoire was presented at the most recent Pedagogy into Practice conference hosted by the Journal for Music Theory Pedagogy. Compositions and arrangements of Harrod’s have been performed globally, from ensembles such as the TRACE Chamber Society and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln Big Band, to performers at the Raffaele Trevisani Flute Course in Italy, the National Flute Association annual convention, and at regional conferences of the Society of Composers, Inc.
In addition to his work as a theory pedagogue and composer, Harrod maintains an active performance schedule as both a guitarist and French hornist, primarily in musical theatre. Recent engagements include the Nebraska premieres of Lizzie (The Shelterbelt Theatre, 2024) and The Prom (Bellevue Little Theater, 2023). In February of 2020, Harrod played mandolin for the world premier of Tony Maglione’s Dust Bowl with the Verdigris Ensemble at the AT&T Performing Arts Center in Dallas, Texas. Additionally, Harrod works as a guitarist in church, jazz, and contemporary classical settings.
Harrod received his DMA in Composition from the Glenn Korff School of Music at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where he taught applied composition, aural skills, the history of rock music, and served as the Assistant Director of the Flyover New Music Series. His Master of Music degree in music theory is from the University of Oklahoma, where he taught freshman and sophomore-level aural skills and assisted in the music theory class. He graduated magna cum laude from East Texas A&M University (formerly known as Texas A&M University–Commerce), where he received the Bachelor of Science degree in Music with an All-Level Teacher Certification.
While at UNL, Harrod received the Othmer Fellowship, the 2022 Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award, and the Ida M. Vreeland Award in Music; at ETAMU he was supported in his studies through both the Hoyle & Ann Oglesby Julian Music Endowment and the Ann Burgess Music Endowment. Upcoming commissions include music for the Nebraska Flute Ensemble, clarinetist Kaitlyn Neufeld, percussionist Trevor Landreth, and vocalist Daniel Ikpeama. He studied composition with Dr. Greg Simon, Dr. Marvin Lamb, and Dr. David Davies, guitar with Tim Goynes, and horn with Michael Morrow and Tim Stevens.
He serves on the National Council of the Society of Composers, Inc. as co-chair of Region VI and as the co-chair of the Society of Music Theory’s Musical Theatre Interst Group. Harrod is a member of the College Music Society, Pi Kappa Lambda, Society for Music Theory, Society of Composers, Inc., Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia, and a Distinguished Member of Sigma Alpha Iota.
