The Walden Chamber Players Young Artist competition is held annually to promote and encourage young musicians from Massachusetts interested in the performance and study of chamber music. Contestants who advance to the final round perform and rehearse an assigned chamber music work with members of the Walden Chamber Players before a live audience. The contestants are not judged only on their technical and musical ability but also on their ability to play and work within the group. Sammy is the first contestant ever to reach the final round of the competition two years in a row, on two different instruments. He was selected as a finalist in the 2012 competition on cello. 'In the final round Sammy showed us that he has a clear individual voice and strong musical instincts.' says Walden's Artistic Director Ashima Scripp, 'He has tremendous promise as a chamber musician.'  

Sammy began playing the cello at age four, and the violin at age seven, showing strong musical interest and promise. Now fifteen, Sammy studies with violinist, John Holland, and cellist, Mike Reynolds. Sammy has won numerous musical awards including being the winner of the 2011 Boston Youth Symphony Orchestra Concerto Competition. Sammy has been a member of the Boston Youth Symphony Orchestras since 2008, and is now both a concertmaster and a principal cellist for the orchestra. Last year, Sammy was the principal cellist of the MMEA's All-State Orchestra, and was also a member of NEC's Youth Philharmonic Orchestra. In past years, Sammy has also been featured as a vocal soloist with the MIT chorus and orchestra, Dartmouth College's chorus and orchestra, and with the Cantata Singers. In the fall of 2011, Sammy also played the role of Amahl in MIT's production of Amahl and the Night Visitors. This past fall, Sammy also began piano lessons with A. Ramon Rivera.