Arizona Opera Cast Members & Creatives

Shawn Galvin is the Curator of New Music Raleigh (NMR), “the Southeast's most plugged-in musical collective devoted to the work of living composers” (Indy Week). NMR presents cutting-edge new works and collaborations that challenge the traditional perception of classical music, engage and inspire diverse audiences, and give voice to today's most innovative and relevant modern music. Recent NMR projects have featured music written by composers Missy Mazzoli, Sarah Kirkland Snider, D.J. Sparr, John Supko, and Linda Catlin Smith. NMR’s newest recording of Brett William Dietz’s Headcase: An Opera Introspective recently released on Centaur Records.

Shawn serves as a regular extra percussionist with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra where he has toured internationally and performed under leading conductors including Lorin Maazel, Mariss Jansons, Manfred Honeck, Chales Dutoit, Leonard Slatkin, David Zinman, Rafeal Fruahbeck de Burgos, and Gianandrea Noseda. Prior to his current positions, Shawn served as Principal Timpanist of the United States Navy Band, Washington, DC, and as a member of Tempus Fugit Percussion Ensemble. He has also performed with the North Carolina Symphony, the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra, the Colorado Music Festival Orchestra, and the Washington Bach Consort.

Shawn has been invited to perform at five Percussive Arts Society International Conventions. He has appeared as percussion soloist with the Lancaster Symphony Orchestra, the Great Falls Symphony, Hamiruge (LSU Percussion Group) and the United States Navy Band. Shawn can be heard on recordings with New Music Raleigh, the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Tempus Fugit Percussion Ensemble, and Michael Burritt.

Originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Shawn holds a Bachelor of Music degree in percussion performance from Duquesne University and a Master of Science in Arts Administration at Drexel University.