“Performing at the Columbus Arts Festival is magical. I love interacting with small children and seeing the wonder on their faces as they hear my music.”
— Sean Perry, multi-instrumentalist
Sean Perry is multi-instrumentalist and a student in music education at Miami University. He has appeared over the past few years at the Columbus Arts Festival, busking with the violin throughout the Festival grounds. We chatted with Sean about his background in music, inspirations and what it’s like performing at the Festival.
Nick: How did you get into performing music initially?
Sean: I started performing at a young age! I started studying violin via the Suzuki method in kindergarten, and soon thereafter switched to taking Irish fiddle lessons. By the time I was nine, I was participating in Feiseanna (Irish dance & music competitions). I started busking in public in 2011, if memory serves, and I’ve joined multiple ensembles in performance since then!
Nick: What instruments do you play?
Sean: My primary instrument is the violin, but I also play piano and Taiko drums, and I compose music. In the past, I also studied mandolin, tin whistle, electric bass, voice, guitar and ukulele. I’m currently enrolled in music education at Miami University, and through that program I’ve also learned the basics of oboe, bassoon, clarinet, alto saxophone, flute, trumpet, trombone, upright bass, viola and cello.
Nick: Do you have a favorite style of music or artist to perform?
Sean: I grew up playing Irish fiddle, but I absolutely LOVE playing symphonic music! I’m especially a fan of Dvorak and Shostakovich.
Nick: Who are some of your musical inspirations?
Sean: As far as the fiddling world goes, Cassie & Maggie and Hanker Cassel are some of my greatest inspirations. Cassie & Maggie are a Nova Scotian sister duo; Hanneke Cassel is a Boston-based Scottish fiddler. On the classical side of things, I greatly admire Itzhak Perlman and Joshua Kyan Aalampour. Itzhak Perlman is a world-renowned Israeli-American violinist, conductor and educator; Joshua Kyan Aalampour is an up-and-coming young composer based in New Jersey.
Nick: What’s it like performing at the Columbus Arts Festival? Are there any challenges?
Sean: Performing at the Columbus Arts Festival is magical. I love interacting with small children and seeing the wonder on their faces as they hear my music. Sometimes vendors ask me to relocate, and sometimes the weather doesn’t cooperate, but it’s still always a wonderful experience as a whole.
Nick: What are you most excited about for this year’s Festival?
Sean: I’m honestly just excited to come back! I’ve missed being at the festival and seeing the smiles of all those to whom my music brings joy. Two years has been too long.
See Sean busking with the violin at the Columbus Arts Festival, June 10-12 on the downtown riverfront.
Columbus Makes Art Presents is a bi-weekly column brought to you by the Greater Columbus Arts Council – supporting and advancing the arts and cultural fabric of Columbus. The column is a project of the Art Makes Columbus campaign, telling the inspiring stories of the people and organizations who create Columbus art. Learn more about local artists, organizations, public art and events at ColumbusMakesArt.com.