Born in Amsterdam in 2001, Sebastiaan West began playing the piano at age 5. Beginning his studies in Amsterdam with the American composer Allan Segall, he quickly developed an appetite for fast and challenging classical repertoire. Moving to the United States in 2010, he continued his study of classical piano, studying first with Joanne Rawson-Moreau and switching in 2014 to study with University of Vermont piano professor Paul Orgel. With Dr. Orgel, Sebastiaan continued to pursue his studies of classical piano, and began performing with the Vermont Youth Orchestra as an accompanist in 2014, accompanying them on Stravinsky’s Firebird Suite and Falla’s The Three-Cornered Hat. In 2015, he performed Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 with artists of the Central Vermont Chamber Music Festival. Sebastiaan made his orchestral debut in 2017, performing Bach’s Keyboard Concerto No. 1 with the Burlington Chamber Orchestra. In 2017, 2018, and 2019, he won the Vermont All-State Classical Piano Scholarship, and in 2019 he performed Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 1 with the Vermont Youth Orchestra. The same year, he also gave a solo recital of the works of Bach, Beethoven, Britten, and Liszt, as well as opening for Bobby McFerrin in the All-State Jazz Band and touring New York City as a member of the Young Tradition Vermont Touring Group. 

 

In addition to his classical studies, Sebastiaan began studying jazz piano and theory in 2013. Soon after this, he joined the Flynn Youth Jazz Combo, studying and performing jazz, from bebop to fusion, with them until graduating high school. By playing alongside people that were passionate at and well-versed in the jazz tradition, Sebastiaan developed a love for the way in which the music facilitated listening and emotional discourse without using a single word. He also formed his own jazz-fusion group, Change Machine, and performed with them in over 40 concerts throughout Vermont. In 2019, Sebastiaan, alongside drummer Sam Keller, appeared on National Public Radio’s Says You as musical accompanists to the nationally popular game show.

 

In 2017, Sebastiaan entered the world of traditional Celtic music. He joined the Young Tradition Vermont Touring Group, led by Celtic trad legends Pete Sutherland and Andrea Beaton. Over the course of three years, he performed with the Touring Group in Vermont, Quebec, New Jersey, Cape Breton, Japan, Scotland, and New York City. Through this group, Sebastiaan began to appreciate the importance of listening to the people around you, the wonder of steady groove, and the art of connecting with an audience.

 

Currently, Sebastiaan is living with his girlfriend Abigail in Europe, making a living as a street musician in cities throughout the Netherlands, France, Scotland, and Ireland. He plans to begin his conservatory studies next year.