Shawn M. Galvin is the Percussionist and Curator of New Music Raleigh (NMR), a collective of dynamic musicians dedicated to presenting outstanding performances of music by living composers. He is also a regular extra percussionist with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra where he has performed under leading conductors including Lorin Maazel, Mariss Jansons, Manfred Honeck, Charles Dutoit, Leonard Slatkin, David Zinman, Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos, and Gianandrea Noseda.
Prior to his current positions, Shawn served as Principal Timpanist of the United States Navy Band in 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 been a soloist with the Lancaster Symphony Orchestra, the Great Falls Symphony, Hamiruge (Louisiana State University 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.
A committed educator, Shawn has presented educational clinics around the country. He has presented at the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic, Music for All National Percussion Festival, the Music for All Summer Percussion Symposium, the MENC National Convention, and has served as a member of the Percussive Arts Society Symphonic Committee.
Originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Shawn began studying percussion with his father at a young age. He received his Bachelor of Music degree in percussion performance from Duquesne University where he studied with Stanley Leonard, Andrew Reamer, and Gerald Unger.
Shawn lives in Raleigh, North Carolina, with his wife Karen, who serves as Assistant Concertmaster of the North Carolina Symphony. He enjoys reading, biking, skiing, coffee, and studying music.
Shawn is a Yamaha Performing Artist and endorses Innovative Percussion.
