Seán Carolan

Seán is a bassist and multi-instrumentalist who has taken the stage across North and South America as well as Europe playing Irish traditional and American folk and improvised music. Hailing from the dynamic musical landscape of Chicago, he has been melded by both the sounds of the rich Irish music history that is imprinted into the city’s cultural fabric as well as the robust improvisational music community that serves as a global center for improvised music. Seàn was a founding member of the Chicago based jam-band Mungion, and has also performed with artists such as Byron Stripling, Kathleen Keane, Simone, the Trinity Irish Dance Company, Bobby Floyd, Jake James, Katie Grennan, Evelyn Thom, Dennis Mackrel (Count Basie Orchestra), Gary Smulyan, Mark Colby, Bobby Schiff, Michael Abene (WDR Big Band), and Victor Wooten.

Seán attended Elmhurst College where he had the opportunity to play in the world renowned Elmhurst College Jazz Band directed by Grammy award-winning arranger Doug Beach. At Elmhurst College he studied with Ken Haebich and Frank Portolese.

Seán has a passion for teaching and he loves to share his expertise with students of all ages. He provides students with instruction on approaches to the physical technique of their particular instrument; music as a language and how music ‘works’; and finally, how to have fun playing music. “With this approach we always practice good habits that will benefit us in the long run while still having a good time.”

Whether working with an absolute beginner learning to fret the guitar or an advanced student studying and analyzing jazz harmony, Sean believes in taking time to communicate with each individual student effectively.

“Not every student will learn the same and not every student will communicate the same,” said Seán. “Figuring out how to communicate with each student allows the lessons to be very productive.”