“One of those holding the torch of progression of drumming” (Adam Arritola/Miami Psych Fest), Sean Hamilton is a percussionist, composer, improviser, and audio engineer whosecreative practice focuses on moments, juxtapositions, and sonic opportunities. Primarily working in hybrids of the improvised and the composed, his work is rooted in avant-garde and experimental music, free jazz/improvisation, electronic and electroacoustic music, noise, punk and metal, design and photography, and sound art. His work often exists through performance, composition, multimedia projects, and the meshing of analog and digital mediums.

Touring extensively since 2015, Sean has performed in over thirty-five states and six countries, including the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Netherlands, and Austria. Notable performances include the Percussive Arts Society International Convention, Interference Series, Skronk Sessions, Pool Improvised Music Series, the Racer Sessions, MOXSonic, and the SEAMUS National Conference. He is a frequent collaborator with other artists from disciplines both in and out of music, with notable collaborative projects including two weeks of creative research at the Phoenix Dance Theatre’s Choreographers and Composers Lab in Leeds, UK, ongoing duo collaboration with Nathan Corder under the moniker Mechanical Bull, and extensive collaboration with Tory Tepp for Earthtones, a project which combines land art, urban agriculture, and improvisational music making. Other various collaborations include work with Tatsuya Nakatani, Anne Malin, Klimchak, Damon Smith, Alex Cunningham, Eric Hall, Dave Stone, Lindsey Kelley Dance, Jacqui Dugal, Rogue Dance, Ron Coulter, Jonas van den Bossche, and Thomas Milovac.

Multi-instrumentalist Klimchak is known for his compositions and performances for dance, theater and live solo performances. These usually incorporate improvisation & playing of over 100 instruments in a single show. He’s received many awards & honors for his work, including the 2009 Loridans Artist Award, often called “Atlanta’s MacArthur Genius Award.”

Recently, Klimchak has been performing solo shows featuring a unique percussion instrument called the Marimba Lumina. Only about 100 of this very rare instrument were made. The Lumina was created by legendary synth inventor Don Buchla. As he described the instrument:

“Modeled somewhat after its acoustic namesake, Marimba Lumina is an electronic MIDI controller that brings an extended vocabulary and range of expression to the mallet instrument family. Marimba Lumina’s playing surface includes a traditionally arrayed set of electronic bars and some (not so traditional) trigger pads and strips (reminiscent of those early ribbon controllers). The instrument is played with special foam covered mallets… Marimba Lumina can identify which of 4 color-coded mallets has struck a bar. This allows one to program different instrumental responses for each mallet, or to implement musical structures in which one mallet selects a course of action while others modify or implement it.”

With the Marimba Lumina Klimchak is able to perform live music that would normally take at least 4 musicians. His multi-instrumental compositions are played with 4 separate mallets, six foot pedals and a breath controller. As added touches, his sets usually include 4 or 5 small percussion instruments, some chanting or tuvan throat singing and at least one solo on the theremin.