(Sean) Michael Keelan began his career with the professional orchestras of Lincoln and Omaha in his native Nebraska, as well as his own musical family, the Keelan Family Musicians & Friends Holiday Concerts. His early studies were with Morris Collier. He received a BM in violin performance at Baldwin-Wallace College’s Conservatory of Music (Berea, OH) under the tutelage of Dr. Julian Ross and served as a teacher of upper strings for the preparatory department.

His MM degree is from the University of Maryland (College Park), where he studied with Dr. Elisabeth Adkins, associate concertmaster of the National Symphony Orchestra. He played concurrently as a first violinist in the Fairfax Symphony, Washington, D.C.’s leading regional professional orchestra. He has also studied with Anton Miller (violin) and on an academic basis with Louise Zeitlin (viola) and Dr. Edward Maclary (conducting).

Directly upon receiving his Masters of Music Performance degree he was invited to join the Wausau (Wisconsin) Conservatory of Music faculty in 2004 as Artist/Instructor of Upper Strings and director of the Wausau Area Youth Symphony. He left there in summer 2008 and relocated in Green Bay to commence a private teaching practice of upper strings in both Green Bay and Milwaukee.

In autumn of 2006, he was selected to be concertmaster of the Green Bay Symphony Orchestra after being acting CM for several years. He is now in his fifth year with that ensemble. Michael has served as a clinician for Lawrence University’s Academy of Music and the Green Bay Symphony Youth Orchestras. He also appeared as concertmaster and soloist with the Wausau Symphony while living there. His solo performances have been aired on Nebraska and Wisconsin public radio.

In October 2008 he was selected to be principal second violin of the Fox Valley Symphony Orchestra in Appleton, Wisconsin, which he will coordinate with his duties in Green Bay's symphony.