Seelan Manickam began his training in Canada where he received his Bachelors of Music at the University of Victoria, studying under Louis Ranger. He continued on to the United States, completing his Graduate work in trumpet performance at The Boston Conservatory where he studied with Steven Emery. Additional studies have been with Jens Lindemann of the Canadian Brass and Charles Schlueter, principal trumpet of the Boston Symphony.

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A sought after soloist, Mr. Manickam has appeared with the Boston Chamber Orchestra, Cambridge Choral Society, South Coast Community Chorale, The University of Massachusetts Orchestra, The Southern New Hampshire Wind Ensemble, The Firelands Symphony Orchestra and most recently the Clarion University Wind Ensemble.

Other professional experience includes playing principal trumpet with The Indian Hill Symphony, New Hampshire Symphony, Salisbury Symphony, Vermont Symphony, New Bedford Symphony, Taipei Sinfionetta and Cape Ann Symphony.  As a founding member of the award winning Bala Brass Quintet, Mr. Manickam has toured the globe appearing most recently in Japan, Canada, Thailand and Australia. A keen interest in contemporary music has led him to be instrumental in the commissioning and performance of numerous chamber and solo works for brass, working with such composers as Norman Bolter, Wycliffe Gordon, Robert Bradshaw and Jeremy Spindler. Mr. Manickam has been a featured artist at several conferences including the International Trumpet Guild Conference, the New York Brass Conference and the Tuba and Euphonium Conference. 

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An advocate of music education, Mr. Manickam has given master classes and clinics at the nation’s top conservatories and schools, including the University of Connecticut, SUNY-Purchase, Shenandoah Conservatory, Wisconsin Lutheran College, University of Massachusetts-Amherst, Bridgewater State College, Salem State College and Phillips Academy.  Mr. Manickam has also served on the faculty at The University of Massachusetts-Boston, The Boston Conservatory’s Special Programs, New England Music Camp and Boston University’s Tanglewood Institute.

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In addition to performing with Bala, Mr. Manickam is currently principal trumpet with The New England Repertory Orchestra, Music Director at St. John’s Preparatory School and is a member of the faculty at Keene State College in New Hampshire where he teaches the trumpet studio, coaches chamber music and is the Music Director of the Keene State Brass Ensemble and the Keene State Orchestra.

 

Seelan Manickam is a XO Performing Artist and performs on the XO line of trumpets.