Sean Osborn's Clarinet Bio


Sean Osborn has performed on four continents since his recital debut at the age of seventeen at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Appointed over nearly 300 other applicants to a position with the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra in 1989, Mr. Osborn was the youngest clarinetist in the history of the Met. He has also performed as Principal Clarinet with the New York Philharmonic, Pittsburgh Symphony, Seattle Symphony , and the American Symphony Orchestra.

Touring the country extensively, Mr. Osborn has performed live on numerous radio stations, including WNYC, KUOW, and KING radio, as well as being presented in recital on WHYY, WIAA and nationally on NPR's Performance Today to name a few. Sean is a top prize winner in both the ARTS Competition and the International Clarinet Society Competition, and in 1984 was named a Presidential Scholar in the Arts. He has also participated in the Marlboro, Colorado, Aspen and Keystone music festivals.

A frequent chamber musician, Mr. Osborn has collaborated with James Levine, Donald Weilerstein, Richard Stoltzman, as well as members of the Colorado and St.Lawrance String Quartets and the orchestras of New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Pittsburgh, Cincinnati and others. He is also a founding member of Quake!

A student of Stanley Hasty at the Eastman School of Music, Mr. Osborn is a graduate of the Curtis Institute of Music and the Interlochen Arts Academy where received its highest honor - the Young Artist Certificate, while studying with Dr. Frank Kowalsky. In 1999 he received his Master's Degree from Southern Illinois University, where he studied clarinet with Dr. Eric Mandat and composition with Dr. Frank Stemper. He has also given numerous master classes throughout the country, including those at Rice University, Florida State University, The Manhattan School of Music and has been a guest lecturer at the Mannes College of Music. In fall of 2006, Sean began teaching clarinet and chamber music at the University of Washington.

Mr. Osborn is also a composer, and has written two Symphonies, an Oboe Concerto, Trombone Concerto, Wind Serenade, Sonata for Eb Clarinet (or Violin) and Piano, and Duet for Bassoon and Clarinet to name a few. His pieces have been performed by faculty of the Juilliard School and members of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, the New York Philharmonic, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Seattle Symphony, Marlboro Music Festival, and the American Saxophone Quartet to name a few.


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