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David Samuel

Pre-College
  • Viola
David Samuel

Contact

Departments

Education

AD (The Juilliard School)

AC (SFCM)

MM (The Juilliard School)

BM (The Juilliard School)

Q&A

What ensembles have you performed with?

Alexander String Quartet (2021-present); Ensemble MidtVest (2013-2015); Afiara String Quartet (2006-2013)

What is your hometown?

Guelph, Ontario

What are you passionate about outside of music?

Food, ice hockey, and cats

Who were your major teachers?

Michael Tree, Karen Tuttle, Henry Janzen

What is a favorite quote that you repeatedly tell students?

"Trust your hands!"

What question do you wish students would ask sooner rather than later?

Why?

What was the defining moment when you decided to pursue music as a career?

Attending a recital by Yuri Bashmet and Mikhail Muntian in Toronto when I was 16 years old.

If you weren't a musician or teacher, what do you think you would be doing now?

Probably a physicist or mathematician. Too bad you would never know that given the current state of my math skills.

What is your daily practice routine?

Open strings, scales and slow repertoire practice.

From a music history perspective, what year and city are most important to you?

New York in the 30s and 40s. Some of the world's greatest musicians fled Europe to the safety of the US during this time. They completely shaped musical training in this country every since.

Please list your top awards and distinctions.

Banff International String Quartet Competition 2010: 2nd Prize and Székely Prize; ARD Music Competition: 2nd Prize; Concert Artists Guild Competition Winner

What recordings can we hear you on?

Mozart String Quintets (Foghorn Classics), British Invasion (Foghorn Classics), Spectrum (Delos Label), Chamber Music of Niels W. Gade, Vol 2&3 (CPO), Mendelssohn and Schubert (Foghorn Classics).

Media

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What was a turning point in your career?

Earning enough money from teaching and performing to pay rent on my own.

Biography

Violist David Samuel's musical life spans continents and prestigious ensembles, cementing his reputation as a versatile and accomplished musician. Joining the esteemed Alexander String Quartet in 2021 marked a return home to North America after many years living abroad. Before relocating to º¬Ð߲ݴ«Ã½ Francisco with his wife, Yuri, and their cat, Milo, Mr. Samuel flourished in Auckland, New Zealand, serving as the Associate Principal Viola of the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra while concurrently shaping young talents as the Convenor of Classical Performance at the University of Auckland. Mr. Samuel's international musical journey began as the founding violist of the Afiara Quartet, where his eight-year tenure witnessed more than 400 concerts worldwide, featuring hundreds of works for string quartet spanning the gamut of the repertoire. Their artistry garnered accolades, including being the inaugural recipients of the Young Canadian Musicians Award, and top prize triumphs at the prestigious ARD International Music Competition in Munich, the Banff International String Quartet Competition, and the Concert Artists Guild Competition. Apart from his string quartet endeavors, he was formerly a member of the groundbreaking Ensemble MidtVest in Denmark. Mr. Samuel attended The Juilliard School, where he earned his Bachelor and Master of Music degrees, as well as an Artist Diploma. He further honed his chamber music expertise at the º¬Ð߲ݴ«Ã½ Francisco Conservatory of Music, acquiring an Artist Certificate. His principal teachers were Paul Hersh, Henry Janzen, Michael Tree, and Karen Tuttle.