Tom Teasley is a visionary solo percussionist, composer, and cross-cultural collaborator hailed by The Washington Post as “a musical wizard.” He seamlessly blends global traditions with jazz improvisation, theatrical sound design, and deep listening—a reflection of his work as a cultural envoy for the U.S. Department of State, where he has performed and collaborated with musicians across the Middle East, Asia, South America, and beyond.
A recipient of the 2016 Drummie Award for World Percussionist of the Year (Drum! Magazine), Tom is also a multi-time Helen Hayes Award winner for Outstanding Sound Design and a four-time WAMA World Music Instrumentalist of the Year. His unique solo performances integrate instruments from across the globe—often enhanced by live looping—and have been featured in venues ranging from the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts to United States embassies in Iraq, Oman, Bahrain, and Jerusalem.
Tom has served as a soloist and composer with the National Symphony Orchestra, and his work as an educator includes masterclasses for major conservatories, cultural institutions, and instrument companies such as Yamaha, Vic Firth, Sabian, Remo, and Gon Bops. His book/DVD An American Approach to World Percussion (Alfred Music) has become a resource for percussionists worldwide.
He is a six-time Fulbright-Hays grant recipient, Artist of the Year with Young Audiences of Virginia, and the subject of major features in Modern Drummer, DownBeat, and Drum! His albums have received international airplay and acclaim, and his current projects include The Art of the Duo—a curated series exploring improvised musical conversations with artists of diverse cultural traditions.