Tim Leahey began studying the trumpet at the age of 6 and has been performing professionally since the age of nine. Originally from Altoona, Pennsylvania, he performed with the Altoona Symphony and the Miss Pennsylvania Pageant Orchestra while still in high school.
Tim attended Youngstown State University from 1986-1991 and studied with Esotto Pellegrini, Susan Sexton and Tony Leonardi. In 1991, he was named Intercollegiate Musician of the Year, as well as winning first place in the International Trumpet Guild jazz improvisation competition. Since that time, Tim has performed with such artists as Rosemary Clooney, Dick Oatts, Cecil Payne, James Williams, the Brecker Brothers, The Temptations, Frankie Valli and many others, as well as performing on occasion with such noted big bands as the Tonight Show Orchestra under the direction of Doc Severinson, the Woody Herman Orchestra, the Glenn Miller Orchestra and the Guy Lombardo Orchestra.
From 1994-2017 Tim was a member/jazz soloist with the premier jazz ensemble of the U.S. Air Force, The Airmen of Note, serving as the group’s administrative leader the last 4 years. Tim was a member of the Shook Russo Quintet from 2008-2018 and has been a clinician/adjudicator/guest conductor at numerous educational events. He has been featured as a soloist on over 2 dozen compact disc recordings as well as performing on the Alfred Publishing jazz improvisation series Approaching the Standards.