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Pianist Sean Cavanaugh has been recognized for his electric and engaging interpretations across a wide range of musical styles. He has performed numerous solo and chamber music recitals, as well as a number of concerto appearances across the United States.
Born in Ft. Lauderdale Florida, Sean began studying the piano at the age of eleven. He completed his undergraduate studies at Florida State University under the guidance of Dr. Read Gainsford and Dr. Carolyn Bridger. In 2011, Sean was awarded first prize at the Florida State University Franz Liszt Piano Competition, and later awarded the Brautlecht Music Scholarship, for excellence in both performance and scholastic achievement. He graduated Magna Cum Laude and with honors in 2012. Sean relocated to Bloomington Indiana to begin his graduate studies at the Jacobs School of Music, where he was awarded an Associate Instructorship. There, Sean complete his Master of Music degree in 2014. |
An avid chamber musician, Sean frequently performs with colleagues in a variety of chamber music settings. Most recent engagements included works for piano quartet, piano trio, and several performances for piano and violin duo. He has studied chamber music with a number of influential educators, including Sung-Mi Im, Sibbi Bernhardsson, Grigory Kalinovsky, Kevork Mardirossian, Lee Phillips, Stephen Wyrzynski, Anton Nel, and Anne Epperson.
Sean has studied at both the Aspen Music Festival in Colorado (2014), and the Chautauqua Music Festival in New York (2016). He has appeared in a number of masterclasses with Jerome Lowenthal, John Milbauer, Nicola Melville, Ning An, Timoth Hoft, and Simone Dinnerstein.
In 2015, Sean began work on his Doctor of Music (DM) at the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University under Dr. Karen Shaw. In 2018, Sean tackled Bach's Goldberg Variations, and was the first Indiana University student to publicly perform the work from memory in over a decade. During his doctoral studies, he completed two minors: Music Theory and Chamber Music. Sean has also done extensive research on the Soviet pianist/composer Samuil Feinberg, a disciple of Alexander Scriabin, and performed a number of his works as part of his final capstone document Samuil Feinberg: An Evolution of Style. In the Fall of 2019 Sean completed his doctorate after his final solo recital, which featured a Bach Partita, Liszt's Bénédiction de Dieu dans la solitude, and Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition.
Sean most recently began working at DePauw University as a Staff Accompanist, where he accompanies many of the instrumental students for their upcoming projects, including recordings, competitions, community performances, juries, and recitals. Since the rise of COVID-19, Sean's work has shifted toward making recordings for instrumental students at DePauw. He has performed many virtual/pre-recorded recitals and juries with many of the students there.
As an educator, Sean has taught a variety of students of all ages and levels. A former Associate Instructor at Indiana University, Sean has experience in both large and small group class settings, as well as individual instruction. He has had experience teaching piano lessons to students with both physical and learning disabilities. Each summer, Sean works as a practice coach for the talented students of the Indiana University Piano Academy. He maintains a large private studio of students in Bloomington, some of whom have gone on to win local and state competitions. In addition, Sean also teaches a number of students in Greencastle, IN as part of the Music on the Square program.
Sean also currently serves as Adjunct Professor of Music at Vincennes University where he teaches several music courses to music majors as well as non-music majors. Currently, Sean teaches Music Theory, Aural Skills, Introduction to Music Theory, World Music, and Music Appreciation, as well as applied piano lessons. Sean performs frequently in faculty recitals each semester at Vincennes either as soloist or collaborator.
Sean has studied at both the Aspen Music Festival in Colorado (2014), and the Chautauqua Music Festival in New York (2016). He has appeared in a number of masterclasses with Jerome Lowenthal, John Milbauer, Nicola Melville, Ning An, Timoth Hoft, and Simone Dinnerstein.
In 2015, Sean began work on his Doctor of Music (DM) at the Jacobs School of Music at Indiana University under Dr. Karen Shaw. In 2018, Sean tackled Bach's Goldberg Variations, and was the first Indiana University student to publicly perform the work from memory in over a decade. During his doctoral studies, he completed two minors: Music Theory and Chamber Music. Sean has also done extensive research on the Soviet pianist/composer Samuil Feinberg, a disciple of Alexander Scriabin, and performed a number of his works as part of his final capstone document Samuil Feinberg: An Evolution of Style. In the Fall of 2019 Sean completed his doctorate after his final solo recital, which featured a Bach Partita, Liszt's Bénédiction de Dieu dans la solitude, and Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition.
Sean most recently began working at DePauw University as a Staff Accompanist, where he accompanies many of the instrumental students for their upcoming projects, including recordings, competitions, community performances, juries, and recitals. Since the rise of COVID-19, Sean's work has shifted toward making recordings for instrumental students at DePauw. He has performed many virtual/pre-recorded recitals and juries with many of the students there.
As an educator, Sean has taught a variety of students of all ages and levels. A former Associate Instructor at Indiana University, Sean has experience in both large and small group class settings, as well as individual instruction. He has had experience teaching piano lessons to students with both physical and learning disabilities. Each summer, Sean works as a practice coach for the talented students of the Indiana University Piano Academy. He maintains a large private studio of students in Bloomington, some of whom have gone on to win local and state competitions. In addition, Sean also teaches a number of students in Greencastle, IN as part of the Music on the Square program.
Sean also currently serves as Adjunct Professor of Music at Vincennes University where he teaches several music courses to music majors as well as non-music majors. Currently, Sean teaches Music Theory, Aural Skills, Introduction to Music Theory, World Music, and Music Appreciation, as well as applied piano lessons. Sean performs frequently in faculty recitals each semester at Vincennes either as soloist or collaborator.