Sam Barrett cello

Sam Barrett is the second-place winner in the Strings Division of the 2016 Music Guild of New Mexico’s Jackie McGehee Young Artists’ Competition for Piano and Strings. Sam began studying the piano at the age of eight in Oak Ridge, TN, and then picked up the cello in the 4th grade orchestra at age nine, under the direction of Abigail Wilmore (now Hoerner). When his family moved back to his home state of New Mexico in 2010, Sam began studying with Carla Lehmeier-Tatum and was inspired by her professionalism and sincerity, as well as that of the musicians and music supporters in the area. He has been privileged to play in ensembles including the Idyllwild Summer Symphony Orchestra, East Mountain High School’s Recording Arts program, and the Albuquerque Youth Symphony, with performances ranging from Popejoy Hall, the Lensic Theater, Carnegie Hall, and Costa Rica’s National Theater. He is grateful to the Music Guild for the honor of performing with the New Mexico Philharmonic. Sam is a junior at the New Mexico School for the Arts and thrives in the focused environment there. This is Sam’s third year in the Competition.