2nd prize winner of the 2017 Jarek Smietana International Jazz Guitar Competition and recipient of the Sergiu Tuhutiu and Alicia Smietana Special Prize, Sean Clapis is a guitarist, vocalist and bandleader originally from Hartford, CT. After discovering jazz and receiving a scholarship from the Hartford Jazz Society, Sean went on to study at the Hartt School of Music under notable masters such as Jackie McLean, Rene McLean and Andy LaVerne. He moved to New York City to continue performing. Since that time, he has made a name for himself as a top level guitarist on the New York jazz scene performing with a variety of artists including Cyrille Aimée , Steve Davis, Gene Jackson, Warren Wolf , Nat Reeves, Josh Evans and has opened for Soulive , Buena Vista Social Club, Peter Bernstein, Mike Stern and Hank Jones to name a few. He currently splits his time between Brooklyn and Madrid.
