Sean J. Kennedy
Adjunct Professor of Drumset, Percussion and Jazz
- KennedyS@arcadia.edu
- Website
- http://www.seanjkennedy.com
Biography
- Areas Of Focus
Drummer • Percussionist • Educator • Author
Praised by The Philadelphia Inquirer for his “intense and sometimes far-out live performances,” Sean J. Kennedy is an acclaimed drummer, percussionist, and educator whose career bridges jazz, classical, rock, and contemporary music. He performs with The Gardyn Jazz Orchestra, The Doc Severinsen Tribute Band featuring Jay Webb, and serves as principal percussionist for the Philadelphia Boys Choir & Chorale.
Kennedy has appeared with The Philly POPS!, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, and Jacksonville Symphony, touring internationally with artists including Roger Daltrey and The Who, Lindsey Stirling, Evanescence, and Il Volo. He has performed at Carnegie Hall, Radio City Music Hall, and Lincoln Center, and has recorded with Bob Mintzer, Mark Kramer, Samuel Heifetz, and more. Jazz legend Dave Brubeck once remarked, “Your drumming sounds like it should; it swings!”
A dedicated recording artist and author, Kennedy has released albums with The Sean J. Kennedy Quartet, The Rolling Buzzards Brigade, and the Gardyn Jazz Orchestra, among others. His publications with Alfred Music and Carl Fischer—including Camp Jam: Rock Solid Drums and Sixty Second Solos—are used by educators worldwide. He also delivered the TEDx Talk “Happy Accidents: Drumming Up Serendipity” and hosts the podcast Backstage at The Enharmonic.
Kennedy proudly endorses Canopus Drums, Zildjian Cymbals, Vic Firth Drumsticks, Grover Pro Percussion, Evans Drumheads, Casio Keyboards, One Beat Better, RimRiserUSA, The Drum Wallet, and Drum Dial—brands that reflect his dedication to musical excellence and craftsmanship.
- Education
- Doctor of Arts in Music (expected 2026) – William Carey University
- Master of Music in Instrumental Performance – West Chester University of Pennsylvania
- Bachelor of Science in Music Education – West Chester University of Pennsylvania
- Hometown
- Ambler
- Home Country
- United States
Publications
Oodles of Accents | Jazz Drum Set Workbook, Publisher: Sean J. Kennedy Music, 202
Connecticut Halftime for Snare Drum, Bass Drum and Piatti as performed by The Rolling Buzzards Brigade Publisher: Sean J. Kennedy Music, 2021
The Three Camps for Trumpet and Snare Drum as performed by The Rolling Buzzards Brigade
Publisher: Sean J. Kennedy Music, 2021
The Downfall of Paris for Brass and Percussion as performed by The Rolling Buzzards Brigade
Publisher: Sean J. Kennedy Music, 2020
Help! I’m Not a Drummer! … But I Have Some in my Ensemble by Sean J. Kennedy
Publisher: Carl Fischer Music Publisher, 2016
Sixty-Second Solos: For Snare Drum, Timpani, and Mallet Instruments by Sean J. Kennedy
Publisher: Alfred Music, 2014
Improvising And Soloing In The Pocket by Sean J. Kennedy and Richie Cannata
For C, Bb, Eb and Bass Clef instruments
Publisher: Carl Fischer Music Publisher, 2013
I Used to Play Drums by Sean J. Kennedy and Liberty DeVitto
Publisher: Carl Fischer Music Publisher, 2011
Camp Jam: Rock Solid: Drums by Sean J. Kennedy and Liberty DeVitto Publisher: Carl Fischer Music Publisher; Drums Edition, 2009
Professional Experience
DRUMMIES, DRUM! Magazine's Annual Readers Poll Award 2015, Sixty-Second Solos: For Snare Drum, Timpani, and Mallet Instruments, by Sean J. Kennedy , Publisher: Alfred Music
2nd Runner-up, Educational Publication of the Year
Modern Drummer Magazine, Dom Famularo’s Teacher List November 2015, Sean J. Kennedy, named one of the top drum teachers in the world
Paul Revere Awards for Graphic Excellence, 3rd Place Award, 2012 I Used to Play Drums, by Sean J. Kennedy and Liberty DeVitto, Publisher: Carl Fishcer
Modern Drummer Magazine Readers Poll, 2011
Camp Jam: Rock Solid Drums, by Sean J. Kennedy and Liberty DeVitto Publisher: Carl Fishcer
Nominated as Educational Drum Book of the Year
Guinness World Records, July 2021
Guinness World Records inductee with Legacy 150 Celebrations Society
“Most People Performing a Drum Roll Online Simultaneously” with 581 drummers
COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE RECORDINGS
Almost4
2002 Merry Christmas
The Allentown Band
2002 Our Band Heritage, Volume 17: Seasons Greetings
2003 Our Band Heritage, Volume 18: Band on Broadway
2004 Our Band Heritage, Volume 19: Sesquicentennial: The Music of John Philip Sousa
2005 Our Band Heritage, Volume 20: A World of Marches
The Sean J. Kennedy Quartet
2004 Road to Wailea
2007 Queen Anne's Revenge (featuring Bob Mintzer and Liberty DeVitto)
2013 Hey! Where's My Tux?!
Philadelphia Boys Choir & Chorale
2009 Celebrate the Sounds of the Season
2011 Sing, Choir of Angels (DVD)
2012 Celebrate the Sounds of the Season (with bonus disc)
2016 Winter Wonderland
Frank DiBussolo Quartet
2010 Average White Cats
Ramblin' Ant & The Locust Street Band
2010 Ramblin' Ant & The Locust Street Band
KAV Trio
2011 Outta’ Here!
Olesia Gordynsky
2012 You Remain
Jose Luis Gomez & International Youth Philharmonic
2016 Kanca and Kennedy Live at Carnegie Hall
The Bob Wagner Quartet
2018 Toot Suite
The Rolling Buzzards Brigade
2020 Connecticut Halftime and The Three Camps (featuring percussionist, Dame Evelyn
Glennie)
2020 The Downfall of Paris (featuring trumpeter, Chris Coletti)
Gardyn Jazz Orchestra
2022 Gardyn
Adam Brittain
2023 Screen Protectors
ARTIST ENDORSEMENTS
Canopus Drums
Zildjian Cymbals
Vic Firth Drumsticks
Evans Drumheads
Grover Pro Percussion
The Drum Wallet
Casio Music Gear
One Beat Better
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
American Federation of Musicians
National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences
Percussive Arts Society
Pennsylvania State Education Association
