Shawn Galvin is a percussionist, conductor, and arts leader known for his creativity and collaborative spirit. He has appeared at venues around the world including Carnegie Hall, Royal Albert Hall, the Musikverein, the Concertgebouw, and countless festivals, art galleries, and basement rock clubs.
Shawn has performed as percussionist and timpanist with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra since 1996. During this time he contributed to many of the PSO’s highly regarded recordings including the winner of the 2018 Grammy Award for Best Orchestral Performance, and he participated in eight international tours. Additionally, Shawn 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 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 is Artist-in-Residence at the Louisiana State University School of Music. He 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.
In 2023, Shawn began as Orchestra Manager at Spoleto Festival USA, one of the finest most multifaceted, and vital professional opportunities in the US for early-career orchestral musicians. The Spoleto Festival USA Orchestra is formed anew each year though nationwide auditions and performs major orchestral concerts, operas, ballets and other special projects during the annual 17-day festival in Charleston, SC.
Shawn is an Artist/Educational Clinician for Yamaha Percussion, Innovative Percussion, and Zildjian.