Shawn starting playing drums at the age of 2 solely inspired from his father, who is a drummer. He got an early start at performing, as he played weekly for his church starting at the age of 10. While in high school, he started taking private lessons with the most sought-after teacher at the time, Phil Verrill. Along with studying with Phil, he also spent time studying with other teachers such as Dom Moio, Dick Demers and Michael Wingfield.
Shawn won several statewide and national music awards while in high school, which lead him to win a substantial scholarship to the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston. While there, he performed and studied with the world’s best teachers and performers including Rod Morgenstein, Dave Dicenso, Mike Mangini, Kenwood Dennard, Dave Weigert, Joe Galeota, and the late Ed Kaspik, to name a few.
Since graduating from Berklee College of Music in 2003, Shawn has been working throughout the northeastern United States as an accomplished drummer, studio musician, and percussionist, playing all styles of music from rock, funk, jazz, blues, afro-cuban, to reggae, and everything in between. He has played many shows with the northeast’s best bands and musicians including Jason Spooner, Kenya Hall, Adam Waxman, Travis James Humphrey, Joey Vellucci, Tom Acousti, and 84 West, amongst countless others. To his recording credits, Shawn has recorded several albums in all styles of music that have received radio play all over the world. He now performs as a member of several other groups and artists including Ben Kilcollins, Jaye Drew and The Damage Done, The Mike Stockbridge Trio, along with many other groups.
Shawn has also established himself as a sought-after private instructor and clinician for promising students, teaching classes in several local school districts. Along with teaching at his private studio in Southern Maine, he also offers his teaching services to the 5 Star awarded Drum Shop in Portland, Maine. He has also added a new avenue to his services by teaching private lessons all over the world through SKYPE.