Bio

Sebastian Shinwell is an accomplished composer, orchestrator, and music educator. He is also an experienced guitarist and vocalist. He has a Master’s degree in Musicology and an Honours Bachelor degree of Fine Arts in composition, Balkan and New music from York University (Toronto, Canada). He has studied with renowned Canadian music figures such as Brian Katz, David Mott, Rob Bowman, and Matt Brubeck.

Sebastian is a fulltime member of The Holy Gasp. He also performs with The Acorn. Most recently, he orchestrated The Holy Gasp’s second studio album The Love Songs Of Oedipus Rex for 18 musicians and vocalists, scored the full-length film Space and Time, and co-composed an original live score to the 1925 silent film The Freshman. He is currently at work orchestrating The Holy Gasp’s third studio album.

For the past ten years, Sebastian has had an active private teaching practice for students of all ages and skill levels, teaching guitar, piano, drums, bass and music theory. Additionally, he has worked for Regent Park School of Music teaching ukulele, harp, hand chimes, and early childhood music in Regent Park and for after school programming at Queen Victoria Public School in Parkdale, Toronto. Sebastian also ran an outreach music program at the Sojourn House, in conjunction with the Regent Park School of Music, for child refugees. He has volunteered with the Toronto District School Board schools as a music and choir director for student concerts.