Sean Schulich – “Promises Kept”
Sean Schulich is a flutist, vocalist, and composer whose magnetic performances are driven by musical storytelling. For his Recomposing America project, Sean’s commissioned work draws inspiration from the name of this ACF initiative, imagining what it means to “recompose” our nation as we think about the welfare of future generations.
About the Commission
Promises Kept was written through the lens of a father yearning for a brighter future for his daughter. Its focus is forward — on REcomposing, rather than DEcomposing. This is the essence of improvisation: constant, imaginative, spontaneous recomposition. In this new work for flute, piano, guitar, bass, and drums, Sean asks, what is America? And, for whom? What is this idea, this ideal? These concepts are realized through group interplay as harmonies and rhythm create a shifting structure for ever-undulating improvised melodic lines. Together, the ensemble seeks a more perfect union within the music and within a renewed America.
Promises Kept: World Premiere
Saturday, Apr. 11, 2026, 8:00 p.m.
Kleinert James Gallery
34 Tinker Street, Woodstock, New York 12498
About Sean Schulich
Sean Schulich has performed with the Funky Meters, the Dirty Dozen Brass Band, the New Orleans Suspects, Bernie Worrell, Charles Neville, meshell ndegeocello, Zigaboo Modeliste, and Matthew Garrison. Recordings include Haitian House music-icon Jephte Guillaume. Sean’s performed at The Mint in LA; The Kennedy Center in D.C.; and BB King’s, BAM, Brooklyn Bowl, Bowery Ballroom, and the Blue Note in NYC. And, he’s been invited to perform at this year’s New Orleans Jazz Fest!
Sean’s unique sound will wrap you in richness, and his masterful melodic lines enthrall and hypnotize. His compositions, which embrace improvisation, explore story-telling, musical dialogue and emotion.
Sean studied at Juilliard, New England Conservatory and Tufts, and earned his Masters from Yale. Sean won Artists International, selling out his Carnegie Hall debut.
American Composers Forum’s ACF | connect program is made possible with the outstanding generosity of the following individuals: Jane Anfinson, Thomas Arneson, Suzanne Asher, Carol Barnett, Pearl and Bob Bergad, Margee and Will Bracken, Karen Brooks, Richard Cisek and Kay Fredericks, Dee Ann and Kent Crossley, Julia W. Dayton, C. Lee Essrig, Rosemary & David Good Family Foundation, Katherine Goodale, Jeff and Hyun Mee Graves, Carol Heen, Steve Heitzeg and Gwen Pappas, Kathleen Henschel and John Dewes, Linda and Jack Hoeschler, Leaetta Hough and Bob Muschewske, Sam Hsu and Sally Cheng, Hella Mears Hueg Estate Gift, Thelma Hunter Estate Gift, John and Ruth Huss, George Frederick Jewett Foundation East, Art and Martha Kaemmer, Jon Lewis and Lisa Merklin, Mike and Kay McCarthy, Greg McNeely, Alfred and Ann Moore, Louis and Gloria Nuechterlein, John Nuechterlein and Dan Monson, John and Debbie Orenstein, I.A. O’Shaughnessy Foundation in memory of Thelma Hunter, David and Judy Ranheim, Denice Rippentrop, Vanessa Rose, Bill and Susan Sands, Gale Sharpe, Doug and Kathy Skor, Dan and Ellie Thomas, Stephen and Jayne Usery, Kathleen van Bergen, Janika Vandervelde, Jim Wafler, and Margaret and Angus Wurtele.