Sean Irvine is a Canadian woodwind multi-instrumentalist, composer, and bandleader renowned for his work on saxophone, flute, clarinet, and oboe. With a focus on versatility, he brings a distinctive woodwind voice to projects spanning classical, jazz, contemporary music, and collaborative performances.
As director and composer of the Sean Irvine 5tet, Irvine debuted in Spring 2020 with the album The Oak in Alley Chapter. Featuring exclusively original compositions, the recording explores the rich textures of woodwinds, brass, vocals, and rhythm section instruments, bringing to life material developed over seven years of his musical journey. Irvine’s second release, Forgotten Stories, a collaboration with the Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra, was released on February 6, 2026, and features ten original compositions written for an 18-piece jazz orchestra.
Irvine’s versatility and expressive command of the woodwind family have led to collaborations with artists including Royal Canoe, David Braid, Nicole Lizée, and Don Amero, and regular performances with ensembles such as the Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra, Big City All Stars, and Still Crazy: The Paul Simon Tribute. He has also accompanied renowned acts including the Dirty Catfish Brass Band, Ron Paley Big Band, Papa Mambo, Mach 10, and the Royal Manitoba Theatre Company.
A highly sought-after educator, Irvine engages with ensembles and students as an adjudicator, mentor, and leader. His teaching positions include Professor of Saxophone Studies at Canadian Mennonite University, Sessional Lecturer at the University of Toronto, and Educator in the Louis Riel School Division. Irvine’s educational work spans theory, ear training, jazz composition and arranging, jazz pedagogy, ensemble instruction, and private lessons.
Serving as Director of the Winnipeg Jazz Education Collective, Irvine has been responsible for the creation and expansion of nearly a dozen musical learning programs for students and adults. While working with El Sistema in collaboration with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra—an initiative introducing elementary students to orchestral woodwinds—Irvine helped shape the program’s curriculum by structuring woodwind instruction, introducing oboe studies, and refining assessment and testing methods.
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Bachelor of Performance
Jazz Saxophone
Brandon University
Post Bachelor Performance Diploma
University of Manitoba
Masters of Music
Performance and Literature (Composition and Jazz)
Brandon University
Doctorate of Jazz Performance (*in progress)
University of Toronto