SAMUEL HOLLISTER, MUSIC DIRECTOR
Conductor, pianist, harpsichordist, composer, and theorist Samuel Hollister believes that music tells powerful stories that create and strengthen communities. In the fall of 2022, Samuel joined the faculty of the University of Rhode Island as the director of orchestral activities. He is also currently pursuing the Doctor of Musical Arts degree in orchestral conducting at the Yale School of Music, serving as the Yale Philharmonia’s conducting fellow and as the assistant to Peter Oundjian, Carolyn Kuan, Leonard Slatkin, and others. In the spring of 2022, Samuel completed two master’s degrees in orchestral conducting and music theory pedagogy, studying with Marin Alsop at Peabody Conservatory. He attended Peabody through a full-tuition scholarship from the Peabody Opera, where he conducted and served as head pianist, assistant conductor, and vocal coach. In January 2022, Samuel served as assistant conductor to Marin Alsop at the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. At Peabody, Samuel worked alongside conductors including Laurie Rogers, Steven White, and Nick Hersh.
While an undergraduate student in music and pure mathematics at Yale, in addition to conducting the Saybrook College Orchestra, Samuel was proud to recruit, organize, and conduct productions of Mozart’s Requiem and Rachmaninoff’s All-Night Vigil. His passion for sharing musical drama and electricity with other musicians brought together a volunteer group totaling over a hundred singers, instrumentalists, soloists, and managers for the two six-month-long productions. takes this passion for music as a connector and applies it as an ensemble musician and a teacher. Samuel specializes in playing full orchestral and choral scores on-sight at the piano, such as in conducting classes and choral rehearsals, as well as collaborating with musicians of all styles. Over the last several years, Samuel has served both as classroom teacher and teaching assistant for a variety of theory courses at Yale and Peabody. A passionate music theorist and sought-after private piano and conducting teacher, Samuel helps people of all musical levels communicate their own musical narratives by way of craft, diligence, and imagination. When he’s not making music, you’ll likely find Samuel playing a game of chess or exploring nature with his camera in hand.
