Hey, Hills! Every Trailblazer issue, we will be featuring a different student. This month, I had the pleasure of interviewing Sean Burke. Sean is a junior here at Hills who eats, breathes, and sleeps magic. I had a blast talking to him, and I hope that reading this interview will make you feel like you know Sean just a little bit better.
Full Name: Sean Burke (I was named after the actor who played James Bond, Sean Connery.)
Q: Who are your biggest inspirations?
A: Lance Burton is the biggest. David Copperfield, Houdini, and Cardini are also up there.
Q: What are your favorite school subjects?
A: I like languages a lot, and Italian is probably my favorite subject. There’s something in me that is drawn to different cultures. I would love to do magic shows in different countries, and it would be great to speak the different languages in the different countries that I perform in. I’m multicultural; my aunt is from Peru so I speak Español, and I also speak French because my grandparents are from France.
Q: Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
A: Hopefully in Las Vegas, doing my own show; that’s my goal.
Q: When did you get started in magic?
A: My mother took me to my first magic show when I was 2 and a half years old- the performer’s name was Marcus the Magician. We talked to him after a few of his shows and he started to send me books in the mail. We got to know him pretty well. He gave me my starter kit. I got my first real magic set when I was about 5 years old and that was for my birthday. I put together an act for my first talent show and my parents kind of helped me out in the beginning. The talent show went great. I told my parents. “Mom, Dad, I really love this.” Since I was five years old, I knew that this was going to be my passion.
Q: What is something that most people wouldn’t know about you?
A: I like theater. Nobody knows it right now because I missed the auditions for the drama. I’m hopefully going to audition for the musical.
Q: Do you get stage fright?
A: I care a lot about my performances, and I think anyone who really cares gets nervous…but once you get a lot of experience, it kind of becomes second nature.
Q: What is your favorite magic trick and why?
A: A lot of people like the “cards from mouth” trick because it’s unexpected. Nobody sees it coming. My favorite kind of magic is called “manipulation.” You use things like billiard balls, and you can make them multiply and vanish. With cards, you can make them vanish and reappear. I like it because it’s spontaneous and it catches people off-guard. You don’t want people to expect the magic to happen. It’s better when it’s a surprise.
Q: How often do you practice your magic?
A: I practice all the time. Every day I practice- I’d say I practice at up to 5 hours a day, and a lot more on the weekends.
Q: What is your favorite song?
A: Party Rock Anthem, because “every day I’m shuffling,” get it?
This or That?
Chris Angel or David Blane? David Blane. I met him one time at a Walmart. He’s a nice guy. TV or Internet? Internet- it’s a lot more resourceful. Taylor Swift or Jennifer Lawrence? Taylor Swift Singing or Dancing? I like both, but I’d probably say singing. I’m in a cappella and in choir.
You can check Sean’s magic out on his website at www.seanburkemagic.com!
