Sean Connors (percussion for New Horizons) received a master’s degree from Northwestern University where he studied with Michael Burritt and graduated with Program Honors. At Northwestern, he won the school-wide concerto competition and performed the United States premiere of Tobias Brostrom’s ARENA Concerto for Percussion. He previously attended the Eastman School of Music where he studied with John Beck, received a BM in percussion performance and music education, and was awarded the school’s prestigious Performer’s Certificate. Recently, he joined the Aspen Contemporary Ensemble and performed as soloist with the group during his summer residence. After teaching general classroom music to elementary and middle school students in the northern suburbs of Chicago, Sean is once again at Eastman where he is pursuing a doctorate in percussion performance.