Sean Foran

Award winning pianist and composer Sean Foran, is a musician with a clear sense of individual aesthetic, his music is melodic, engaging, and manages to draw stylistic influences together in a vibrant manner. He has received the prestigious Brisbane City Council's Lord Mayors Emerging Artist Fellowship, APRA Professional Development Award (Jazz), the QLD Music Award for Jazz (7 times) and the APRA/AMC State Award for Excellence in Jazz. A member of the acclaimed improvising trios TRICHOTOMY & Berardi/Foran/Karlen he has collaborated with the QLD Symphony Orchestra, Expressions Dance company, international jazz artists Julian Arguelles, Froy Aagre & Pascal Schumacher plus a range of classical groups, Topology, Southern Cross Soloists, Lunaire & Collusion.

His performance experience is extensive, with performances at the Tokyo Jazz Festival, Jazzahead Bremen, Manchester Jazz Festival and tours in the UK, China, Europe, Canada, South America and Korea. His recorded music features on labels internationally in the UK, Holland and Japan, and he has been commissioned to write for the QLD Theatre Company, Expressions Dance Company, Bangalow Chamber Music Festival, DeClassified Music Festival and the Brisbane International Jazz Festival.

Sean is a graduate of the Queensland Conservatorium with a Major in Jazz Piano. He also holds a graduate certificate in Arts Administration from Queensland University of Technology and a Masters of Arts in Jazz Performance with Distinction from the Leeds College of Music UK. He has studied at the prestigious Banff Centre Jazz & Creative Music Workshop and privately in Australia, Canada, Norway, Sweden, France & the UK with leading musicians including John Taylor, Tord Gustavsen, Baptiste Trotignon, Matthew Bourne and Lars Jansson.

He is currently Head of Music at JMC Academy Brisbane & co-director of the specialist publishing company Prepared Sounds. He is an associate artist of the Australian Music Centre, Board Member at the Wangaratta Jazz Festival and Jazz Councillor for Music Australia.

Awards

• 2018 – QLD Music Award – jazz work of the year • 2017 – FUNDING – Arts Queensland – QASP program • 2016 / 2017 – QLD Music Award – jazz work of the year • 2016 – APRA/AMC State Award for Excellence in Jazz • 2015 – FUNDING – Ministry of the Arts – ANZAC Cultural Fund • 2014 – FUNDING – Australia Council for the Arts – New Work • 2014 – FUNDING – Arts Queensland – Professional Development • 2013 – Finalist British Council Australia – Realise Your Dream Award • 2013 – Finalist APRA Award for Excellence in Jazz • 2013 – Finalist AIR Jazz Album of the Year • 2013 – Finalist Bell Award – Contemporary Jazz album of the Year • 2012 – FUNDING – Regional Arts Development Funding – New Work • 2011 - Finalist - APRA Jazz work of the Year • 2011 – FUNDING – Australia Council for the Arts – New Work & Arts Queensland • 2011 – Finalist – Bell Award – Contemporary Jazz Album of the Year • 2010 – FUNDING – Sound Travellers Program – Australian Touring • 2009 - WINNER - APRA Professional Development Award - Jazz • 2009 – FUNDING – Arts Queensland – Development and Presentation • 2007 Recipient of Brisbane City Council Lord Mayors Emerging Artist Fellowship • 2007 - Recipient of fellowship - Ian Potter Cultural Trust • TRIPLE Q Song (QLD Music Award) Jazz winner - 2010, 2008, 2006

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