Percussionist Leigh Wilson joined the South Dakota Symphony Orchestra in 2021 for its centennial season.  A Massachusetts native, he began playing percussion at age thirteen under John Tanzer of the Portland Symphony and continued with Kyle Brightwell of the Boston Symphony.  In college, he studied in the Harvard/New England Conservatory dual degree program, graduating with a degree in chemistry from Harvard College and a master's degree from the New England Conservatory, studying under Matthew KcKay.  He has performed regularly with the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra, was a fellow of the National Orchestral Institute, and is the recipient of the 2022 Rachel Mellinger Award for his contributions to the Harvard-Radcliffe Orchestra.