Sean is Chair of Composition at the Lamont School of Music at the University of Denver. A Rome Prize winner, he was formerly Assistant Professor of Practice in Composition at the USC Thornton School of Music and Lecturer of Composition at the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music. He also directs the Sunset Chamber Fest Young Composers Workshop, serves as Composition Mentor in Residence at the Suncoast Composer Fellowship Program, and is Acting Senior Composer in Residence at the Chamber Music and Composers Conference of the East.

Private Lessons

He teaches private lessons to an international roster of students, from high school composers to professional adults working in classical music, film, pop, and beyond. His students have been admitted to composition programs at every Ivy League university and routinely go on to top programs including Juilliard, Eastman, USC, UCLA, Michigan, Indiana University, Oberlin, Peabody, Manhattan School of Music, CalArts, Cleveland Institute of Music, UC Berkeley, UC San Diego, the Royal College of Music, and many others.

Composition Portfolio & College Admissions Advising

Sean also offers specialized advising for composers applying to undergraduate and graduate programs. Drawing on his experience as a faculty member at three major music schools, his service on competition juries including the ASCAP Morton Gould Young Composer Awards, and his deep familiarity with what top programs seek in applicants, he provides high-level feedback on compositional work alongside practical guidance on portfolio preparation, program selection, and application strategy. This is available as a standalone service or in combination with ongoing lessons.

Private lessons and advising are available via Zoom or in person. To inquire, please contact sean@seanfriar.com.