Sean Sweeden, DMA

Composer in Residence

A native Arkansan, Sean Sweeden began studying music with his parents at a young age, singing in church choirs, various ACDA honor choirs, and musical theatre. He studied percussion with Philip Parker, voice with Dr. Jon Clements, and saxophone with Kenneth Futterer at Arkansas Tech University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Percussion and Vocal Performance. While there, Sean performed in a wide variety of ensembles including percussion ensemble, band, choir, jazz band, theatre orchestra, music theatre workshop, and opera workshop. In May 2013, he earned the Master of Music in Percussion Performance from the University of Arkansas, where he studied percussion with Chalon Ragsdale and composition with Dr. Robert Mueller. Sean received the Doctorate of Musical Arts in Percussion Performance at the University of Missouri at Kansas City in May 2018. While there, he studied with principal percussionist of the Kansas City Symphony, Christopher McLaurin, as well as Dr. Nick Petrella. Sean is published with C-Alan Publications, won the Lee University Percussion Ensemble Composition Contest in 2014, and the VocalEssence Welcome Christmas Carol Contest in 2016.Dr. Sweeden plans to compose for a variety of ensembles, but is especially interested in creating works that combine percussion and chorus. Sean continues to perform, teach, and study percussion, sing, and also further his compositional style. Sean was appointed to membership in The William Baker Festival Singers in 2016 and has been a featured soloist in numerous concerts and recordings. He was appointed Composer in Residence in 2020 and serves as a fellow of the Institute for Choral Creativity.