2013 First Prize Classical Clarinet: Samuel Almaguer | VEA Competition

2013 First Prize Classical Clarinet: Samuel Almaguer

sam_clarinetClarinetist Samuel Almaguer is a native of San Antonio, Texas. He is a pursuing a Master of Music degree from The Shepherd School of Music at Rice University with Richie Hawley. Samuel holds a Bachelor of Music degree from The Colburn School Conservatory of Music in Los Angeles, CA where he studied with Yehuda Gilad. Samuel was principal clarinet at the Young Musicians Foundation Debut Orchestra in Los Angeles and is active member of the Shepherd School Symphony Orchestra. As a chamber musician, he has collaborated with the the Takács String Quartet and pianist Menaham Pressler, founding member of the Beaux Arts Trio, among others. Samuel has been featured on National Public Radio’s “From The Top” with pianist Christopher O’Riley and most recently on WGHB Boston in performances with the Tanglewood Music Center, where he also gave the American premiere of George Benjamin’s opera “Written on Skin”. In addition to Tanglewood, he has also been a fellow at the Music Academy of the West in Santa Barbara, CA. Samuel is a 2013 Vandoren Emerging Artist.