Born and raised in Denver, Colorado, Sean has spent much of his time in the Rocky Mountain region. He graduated from the University of Wyoming (UW) in 2018 with a degree in Music Education. Sean is a recent graduate from the College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) in Cincinnati, pursuing a Master's Degree in Trumpet Performance as a member of the Graduate Brass Quintet Fellowship program. ​ McKay's passion for music began at an early age listening to his father play piano. His interest in trumpet began in elementary school and he hasn't been able to put it down since. McKay was active with the Colorado Honor Band Association from middle school through high school; it is here that his passion for playing trumpet and performing developed. ​ Throughout his Undergraduate Degree, McKay served as a member, and eventually principal/lead trumpet, of the University of Wyoming Symphony Orchestra, the Wyoming Jazz Ensemble, and the UW Wind Symphony. He has toured the state of Wyoming with both the UW Symphony and the Wyoming Jazz Ensemble. ​ During the Summers of 2015, 2016, and 2017 Sean worked for the Bigfork Summer Playhouse, in Bigfork, Montana, as the trumpet player in the pit orchestra. He has been in numerous pit orchestra for various school and professional musical productions. ​ Musicians with whom Sean has shared the stage include Gerard Schwarz, Peter Olstad, Ben Markley, the American Brass Quintet, and Terell Stafford; including performing at Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola in New York City. ​ McKay has been part of two major recording projects, one with the Wyoming Jazz Ensemble on their album Winds of the Snowys. The other with the CCM Wind Symphony on their most recent recording Grand Pianola Music, released August, 2021. Sean is currently touring with the North American tour of The Book of Mormon.