Born in Honolulu, Hawaii, and raised in Los Angeles, California, Sean Krissman currently serves as a principal clarinet for San Francisco Ballet Orchestra. He was previously a principal clarinet of Houston Grand Opera Orchestra for eight seasons. During his tenure at HGO, Krissman completed his Master of Music at Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music under the tutelage of Richie Hawley. He received his Bachelor of Music with high honors from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. He has studied extensively with Dan Gilbert, Chad Burrow, Helen Goode-Castro, and Yehuda Gilad.

Winner of the Gino B. Cioffi Memorial Prize at the Tanglewood Music Center, Krissman has spent previous summers at Crested Butte Music Festival, Spoleto Festival USA, Music Academy of the West, The Banff Centre, National Repertory Orchestra, and AIMS Graz. Currently, Krissman serves as second and Eb Clarinet of the Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music during the summer season.

Krissman has been featured as a soloist with National Repertory Orchestra, University of Michigan Philharmonia, Bob Cole Conservatory Symphony, and has performed with New York Philharmonic as an inaugural Zarin Mehta Fellow. Other orchestral appearances have included Houston Symphony, Houston Ballet Orchestra, Kansas City Symphony, Sarasota Orchestra, and guest principal clarinet with Pacific Symphony and San Francisco Opera Orchestra.

Beyond performance, Krissman possesses a strong passion for music education. As a former Young Artist with DACAMERA and member of Rice University’s JUMP! program, he has participated in numerous community engagements in the greater Houston area and was formerly on faculties at the American Festival of the Arts and Lone Star College-University Park. He currently maintains a private clarinet studio and is on faculty at San Francisco State University.