Eric Tanner began violin studies at the age of three and made his solo debut performing Saint-Saens’ Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso with Nathan Gottschalk and the Pioneer Valley Symphony in Greenfield, Massachusetts, at age 13. He studied at the Eastman School of Music and received bachelor’s and master’s degrees in music from the University of Massachusetts and the Manhattan School of Music, respectively.  

Principal Second Violin of the Grand Rapids Symphony since 1999, Eric has made numerous solo appearances, including performing the Brahms Double Concerto and Vivaldi’s Four Seasons. Eric has held positions in the Florida Philharmonic, New Orleans Symphony, Springfield Symphony and American Sinfonietta. While serving as Concertmaster of the North Miami Beach Symphony, he performed the Bruch Violin Concerto with the orchestra.  Along with violinist Joshua Bell, Eric was a finalist in 1982 in the first annual SEVENTEEN Magazine and General Motors Concerto Competition, in addition to other competitions and awards. 

Eric performs extensively as a chamber musician, both as second violinist with the Grand Rapids Symphony’s DeVos String Quartet and as first violinist of the Perugino String Quartet, which was founded at Grand Valley State University, where Eric also taught violin from 1997 to 2011. With the Perugino Quartet, Eric has performed in New York City’s Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts at the invitation of the Juilliard Quartet. 

The many music festivals and concert series he has performed at include regular appearances with the Saugatuck, Sunflower, Buzzards Bay, Waterloo and Grand Teton music festivals, as well as performances in Germany and Austria.

Eric resides in East Grand Rapids with his wife, cellist Stacey Bosman Tanner, and their two daughters, Elizabeth and Charlotte.

Eric is thrilled to return to BBMF for his 16th year.