Shawn Galvin is a percussionist, conductor, and producer known for his creativity and collaborative spirit. He has appeared at venues around the world including Carnegie Hall, Royal Albert Hall, and Elbphilharmonie, as well as countless art galleries and basement rock clubs.
Shawn has served as percussionist and timpanist with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra since 1996 with whom he won a Grammy Award for Best Orchestral Performance. He founded New Music Raleigh, “the Southeast's most plugged-in musical collective devoted to the work of living composers” (Indy Week) which presents bespoke contemporary classical performances. He has also served as percussionist and timpanist of the United States Navy Band, Washington, DC and as a member of Tempus Fugit Percussion Ensemble.
As a conductor, Shawn has led productions for the Arizona Opera, Duke Performances, and North Carolina Opera. He has collaborated on projects with members of Big Star, R.E.M., Wilco, and Yo La Tengo. He has produced events for the National Gallery of Art, the North Carolina Symphony, CAM Raleigh, and Hopscotch Music Festival, and has served on panels for New Music USA, the Greater Baltimore Cultural Alliance, and the Opportunity Fund.
Shawn has presented at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention, Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic, Music for All National Festival, as well as at universities across the country.
Galvin is Artist-in-Residence at the Louisiana State University School of Music and Orchestra Manager at Spoleto Festival USA. He is an Artist/Educational Clinician for Yamaha Percussion, Innovative Percussion, and Zildjian.
Recordings
Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra - Bruckner: Symphony No. 7 - Bates: Resurriexit, Manfred Honeck - (Reference 2024) - Percussion
Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra - Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 5 and Schulhoff: Five Pieces, Manfred Honeck - (Reference 2023) - Percussion
Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra - Beethoven Symphony No. 6 Stucky Silent Spring, Manfred Honeck - (Reference 2022) - Percussion
Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra - Beethoven Symphony No. 9, Manfred Honeck - (Reference 2021) - Percussion
Out and Gone Music - Curve - (Out and Gone 2020) - Percussion, Composer
Cyanotype - Birdsongs of the Necromancer - (Out and Gone 2020) - Percussion
D.J. Sparr - Electric Bands - (Innova 2019) - Percussion
Knowles, Strittmatter-Galvin, Galvin, Gilmore - Bag of Tricks, Vol 2 - (Out and Gone 2018) - Percussion
Polyorchard - Red October - (Out and Gone 2017) - Percussion
David Kirkland Garner - Dark Holler - (New Focus 2017) - Percussion
Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra - Shostakovich Symphony No. 5, Manfred Honeck - (Reference 2017) - Percussion
Cherry, Estoppey, Mensestres, Galvin, Gilmore - Bag of Tricks, Vol 1 - (Out and Gone 2017) - Percussion
Skylar Gudasz - Oleander - (Daniel 13 2016) - Percussion
Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra - Strauss Elektra and Der Rosenkavalier Suites, Manfred Honeck - (Reference 2016) - Percussion
Brett William Dietz - Headcase: Opera Introspective - (Centaur 2016) - Percussion, Producer
D.J. Sparr - 21207 - (Centaur 2015) - Percussion
Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra - Mahler Symphony No. 3, Manfred Honeck - (Exton 2011) - Percussion
Tempus Fugit Percussion Ensemble - Push Button, Turn Crank - (Self released 2001) - Percussion
Tempus Fugit Percussion Ensemble - TFPE - (Self released 1999) - Percussion