As a global engagement professional and consultant (development and partnerships of higher education & the arts), Sean Gao was recently named as Musical America’s Top 30 Professionals of the Year. As one of the world’s most successful performers, presenters, producers, promoters, conceptualizers, composers, and pedagogues of the performing art, Mr. Gao has solo performed classical violin with 100 plus orchestras worldwide. As the University of Delaware Trustees Distinguished Professor of Music and Performing Art Administration, Sean conceptualized and composed Shanghai Sonatas, a new American musical that is being developed by Broadway producers. He is also the producing director of 6-WIRE Jazz-world music ensembles and CivilizASIAN, a crossover performing production globally promoting Asian arts, languages, literatures, cultures and history.