Biography
Samuel discovered music at the age of three when he began learning the violin, an instrument that would play a central role in his artistic journey.
He pursued advanced studies in music at the University of Montreal, earning a first bachelor’s degree in performance (classical violin—2019) and a second in music composition (2020), as well as a minor in digital music (2022).
During his university years, he studied violin with Claude Richard and performed with the University of Montreal Orchestra under the baton of conductors such as Jean-François Rivest, Kent Nagano, and Yoav Talmi, as well as with numerous chamber music ensembles as a violinist and violist. He also studied composition and orchestration with renowned professors such as Ana Sokolovic, Denis Gougeon, François-Hugues Leclair, and Maxime McKinley. During his studies in digital music, he explored electroacoustic music composition, sound design, audiovisual creation, mixing, and mastering, as well as video game music composition with François-Xavier Dupas (co-founder of Vibe Avenue studio).
With over fifteen years of experience as an orchestral musician under his belt, it’s no surprise that Samuel favours orchestral composition. During his time as concertmaster of the Montreal Youth Symphony Orchestra, he had the opportunity to perform several times at Place-des-Arts, playing works such as Mahler’s Symphony No. 3 and Verdi’s Requiem at the Maison Symphonique, as well as accompanying the Marie Chouinard ballet company in Igor Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring at Théâtre Maisonneuve. He also participated, as a violist, in singer-songwriter Philippe Brach’s symphonic pop concert at the Maison Symphonique, accompanied by the Agora Orchestra.
As a composer, Samuel developed his professional expertise in scoring to various media at SAGA Stratégie Sonore, composing numerous original themes for various media (documentaries, podcasts, commercials, video games, and augmented reality apps).
Expanding his horizons internationally, his recomposition of the music for a scene from László Nemes’ film Son of Saul earned him a spot in the global top 5 of the Score the World International Film Scoring Competition.
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Beyond music, he cultivates a curiosity and sensitivity for other forms of expression and experiences. A 2024 graduate of the Institut de tourisme et d’hôtellerie du Québec with a degree in wine studies, he has also worked as a sommelier and mixologist, developing a refined taste for aromatic and sensory pairings. Passionate about surfing, coffee, and reading, he draws constant inspiration from these interests, thereby enriching his artistic approach and his relationship with the world.