Sean O’Loughlin, conductor
Sean O’Loughlin (b.1972) is the Principal Pops Conductor of the Victoria Symphony and the Principal Pops Conductor of the Syracuse Symphony. His diverse background includes collaborations with some of the leading symphonies and popular artists of today. As a conductor, he has led performances with the Boston Pops Orchestra, the San Francisco Symphony, the Chicago Symphony, the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, the Minnesota Orchestra, the National Arts Centre Orchestra, the Atlanta Symphony, the Dallas Symphony, the Houston Symphony, the Vancouver Symphony and the San Diego Symphony amongst others. He has served as conductor for symphony tours with Josh Groban, Sarah McLachlan, The Decemberists and the Jerry Garcia Symphonic Celebration. He has appeared on Good Morning America and the PBS Special “Stages” with Josh Groban in addition to NBC’s “A Very Pentatonix Christmas.”
Recent collaborations include such artists as Alicia Keys, Josh Groban, Journey, a-ha, Jason Mraz, The Beach Boys, Sarah McLachlan, Steven Tyler and Joe Perry, Pentatonix, Kelly Clarkson, Diana Ross, Gladys Knight, Blue Man Group, Janelle Monáe, Audra McDonald, Hall and Oates, the Indigo Girls, The Go-Go’s, Bonnie Raitt, Pink Martini, Brandi Carlile, Weird Al Yankovic, Melissa Etheridge and others. Through his growing number of commissioned and published works, Sean is excited to continue contributing to the rich history of orchestral and wind band literature. His music is published by Excelcia Music, Hal Leonard and Carl Fischer. An annual ASCAP Special Awards winner, Sean was a composition fellow at the Henry Mancini Institute in Los Angeles, and holds composition degrees from New England Conservatory and Syracuse University.
Denzal Sinclaire, vocalist
In addition to his talents as a pianist, percussionist and actor, Denzal Sinclaire is one of Canada’s most popular jazz vocalists and is ranked among the finest jazz singers of his generation. From the moment he steps on stage, he seems to naturally and effortlessly evoke a profound emotional interaction with his audience, touching the listener with his passionate and sincere delivery and the purity of the message in every song he sings.
Sinclaire is a multiple nominee of the Juno Award (Canada’s Grammy Award), a recipient of the 2004 National Jazz Award for “Best Album,” four-time consecutive recipient of Jazz Report Magazine Award for Male Jazz Vocalist, and France’s 2007 Choc Jazzman Award.
From his early days as a canny interpreter of Nat ‘King’ Cole’s mentholated crooning, he’s grown into one of the most distinctive and individualistic singers anywhere. He has graced the stages of numerous concert halls and festivals around the world, and appeared on several TV shows, including Canada’s Bravo!TV, Canada AM, Nashville Now, and Ireland’s The Late Late Show. As a former member of UK soul artist Jamie Lidell’s band, he has appeared on Late Night with Conan O’Brien, Jimmie Kimmel Live!, and Manu Katché’s show in France, One Shot Not. Additional television and film credits include appearances in the new Battlestar Gallactica TV series and Being Julia, starring being Annette Bening and Jeremy Irons.
Sinclaire has recorded three albums for Universal Music: I Found Love, Denzal Sinclaire, and My One & Only Love.
Dee Daniels, vocalist
Dee Daniels is a unique talent who transcends musical borders when she brings her jazz styling to the stage, infused with gospel and blues flavoring. She performs and records globally with symphony orchestras, big bands, combos, and numerous jazz legends, including Monty Alexander, John Clayton, Wycliffe Gordon, Cyrus Chestnut, Eric Alexander, Ken Peplowski, and Russell Malone. Dee has 15 CDs as a leader to her credit, including her latest release, Let It Shine! Let It Shine!, in duo with Juno-nominated vocalist Denzal Sinclaire, and the 2021 multi-award-winning and critically acclaimed CD, The Promise. Her 2013 release, State of the Art, on Criss Cross Jazz Records which made her the first vocalist and female leader in the label’s 40+ year history.
