Known for his dynamic and inspiring leadership
on and off the podium, Shawn Burke-Storer is making a profound musical impact throughout the Mid-Atlantic
Region and beyond. His interpretations and performances have been called everything from “substantial”
to “memorable” and “stellar” to “orgasmic”. He has been praised by
musicians, boards and audiences alike for his versatility in working with musicians of all levels, always soliciting the highest
level of artistry. Currently, he is Music Director of the Light Opera Company of Southern Maryland, Principal Guest
Conductor of the Richmond Philharmonic and Assistant Conductor of the Prince
George’s Philharmonic. He has served
as Music Director of the Charles Street Chamber Players and the Tantalus Chamber Orchestra, Assistant Conductor of the Baltimore
Chamber Orchestra and Assistant and Cover Conductor for the Minnesota Orchestra on multiple occasions. Hailed
as a “hip, young, upcoming talent” by the Towson Times, his recent and upcoming guest conducting engagements include
appearances with the Washington Savoyards (DC), the Forgotten Opera Company (DC), the Symphony Orchestras of Lafayette (IN)
and Londontowne (MD) and the Catholic University Opera Theatre. Equally at home in orchestral, operatic,
contemporary and musical theatre genres, his recent and upcoming stage work includes performances of Man of la Mancha,
the Merry Widow, the Mikado, Naughty Marietta, the Old Maid and the Thief and Tartuffe.
He was also recently chosen as one of twenty-four conductors from around the world to participate in the Vakhtang Jordania
International Conducting Competition in Kharkov, Ukraine.
While remaining firmly rooted in classical traditions and styles, he is an advocate of performing
new music by living composers, having commissioned and performed music by some of America’s most promising young
talents. In addition, he conducted the world premiere of his own work, Dolorous Abyss: Reflections on Dante’s Inferno. His performance
of Libby Larsen’s Ring of Fire with the Peabody Concert Orchestra prompted
the composer to write, “Mr. [Burke-] Storer’s performance was stellar. The
orchestra was crisp and clean, executing the rhythm with precision, and the textures were brilliantly balanced.” As an avid collaborator with other arts mediums and organizations, he has conducted
for numerous special events including the opening dedication of Peabody Conservatory’s Griswold Hall, the presentation
of Nectar and Ambrosia: an Evening of Music and Art with the Tantalus Chamber Orchestra
and headed a collaborative project between the BCO and the Maryland Film Festival.
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Mr. Burke-Storer holds a Doctor of Musical Arts
Degree in Conducting from the Catholic University of America, a Masters Degree in Orchestral Conducting from the Peabody Conservatory,
a Bachelors Degree in Music Education from the Meadows School of the Arts at Southern Methodist University, and furthered
his training as an inaugural member of the American Academy of Conducting at the Aspen Music Festival. Described
as an engaging public speaker, Mr. Burke-Storer has participated in numerous pre-concert discussions, television and radio
interviews and has been a frequent guest on WBJC 91.5 FM Baltimore’s Classical Station and CNN Headline News.
His principal teachers include Gustav Meier, Murry Sidlin, Kate
Tamarkin, David Zinman, Markand Thakar and David Searle.
He has participated in conducting master classes with Leonard Slatkin, Robert Spano, Jorma Panula, Donald Thulean,
James Conlon and Jonathan Sternberg. A firm believer in the importance of Music Education for all ages,
Mr. Burke-Storer is currently the instructor for Basic Conducting and Advanced Instrumental Conducting at Catholic University. He
also served as Conductor of the Chesapeake Youth Concert Orchestra for five seasons and his course, Behind the Scenes
at the Baltimore Chamber Orchestra, offered through Johns Hopkins University Odyssey received outstanding reviews.
Dedicated to the community in which he lives, he served for three years as a Mayoral appointed member of the Greenbelt
City Council Arts Advisory Board. As a trombonist, he has performed in such world-renowned venues as the
Meyerson
Symphony
Center,
the John
F.
Kennedy
Center
and Carnegie Hall. He currently lives in the Baltimore/Washington area with his wife, Michelle, and their
cat Pandora
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