06/01/2026
As June is LGBTQ+ Pride month in the US, we at ITEA have the pleasure of highlighting Dr. Sean Kennedy, also known as Peacock the Goddess of Tuba. Dr. Kennedy spends much of their time performing as a part of Meow Wolf, an interactive arts production company that creates immersive multidisciplinary experiences based in the Sante Fe, New Mexico area. As a self-made artist with a passion for teaching, performance, art, and drag Kennedy has been able to meld all of this in their work and performance as Peacock. Kennedy has an eclectic and packed schedule from multi-hour improvisation sets, performances, creating and curating their own costumes, makeup and wigs for their drag persona, teaching, and composing. Kennedy notes that their daily schedule depends on the day. Sometimes it is teaching 20 to 40 private students, other times they are performing as part of Meow Wolf for over 6000 patrons a day, they also create costumes for themselves and other clients. As a non-traditional career, Kennedy highlights that they can call their own shots and create their own path to success, based entirely on how far they are willing to go and their ability to bring the tuba to ever new and varied audiences. When not working, Kennedy relaxes by planning new pieces of art, traveling, reading, and composing.
Like many tuba players in our community, Dr. Kennedy switched to the tuba in 7th grade after a year on euphonium and has never looked back. Originally wanting to be a soloist, Kennedy notes that much of what they do doesn’t fit or get taught as part of standard degrees, so much of their career path was learning and perfecting outside the “traditional” path. With degrees from the University of New Mexico, Penn State, and Texas Tech Kennedy notes that beyond simply learning to play the tuba better, many of the things that most stuck with them from their degrees were lessons away from the instrument, stating “Accept all critiques, and learn from them. All art is experimentation, and you must learn from all things you do.” When asked about how they moved from student to professional, Kennedy emphasized the importance of auditioning, keeping current with trends in modern music and culture, practicing improv (both acting and musical), and being a kind and thoughtful person.
Dr. Kennedy offered several great pieces of advice for our readers, starting with “always be listening and learning.” They note the importance of being able to listen and accept critiques in such a way that you are able to learn and respond positively as something that is essential not just as musicians but in business and in life. They also highlight that there are not going to be enough traditional jobs for every tubist, instead it is important for each of us to find our niche and create a space for ourselves. Lastly, they highlight the need for business skills saying “Learn to measure your success for yourself and learn how to run a business. It is the most important thing that any musician can really do. Learn how to do your taxes. Learn labor laws. Learn how to negotiate your contracts and never let people intimidate you.”
Thank you, Dr. Kennedy for showcasing an fascinating alternative to the “traditional” tuba career, bringing the tuba to an entirely new and fresh audience, and for being part of the Meet the Members project. If you enjoyed the read, consider filling out the form yourself. We hope to see some of you readers featured here in the future!
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The primary mission of the ITEA College Students Committee is to make the association more relevant and accessible to college students. Our current ongoing projects and objectives include but are not limited to:
- Advising ITEA on how to better cater to college students’ needs.
- Facilitating the establishment of new student chapters.
- Offering support for guest artist and lecturer events.
- Exploring financial aid opportunities for student chapters and individuals, such as travel grants and scholarships.
We also invite all members, especially college students, to share your feedback and expectations via the survey. Let us know how ITEA can better serve and engage with the collegiate community to ensure the association remains relevant and accessible. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd2xo2DQNRcLwwjT8qzQWhQCvj1cwjPsuVLA74KoJFOkjOTuQ/viewform
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