Accolades
Competition Wins & Awards
2021
2021 William Knabe International Piano Concerto Competition
— Semi Finalist Competing in July 2021
Gershwin, Rhapsody in Blue
2021 Los Angeles International Liszt Competition
— Division 1 - Honorable Mention
Liszt, Etudes de concert, S. 144: No. 3, Un Sospiro (Allegro affettuoso) in D♭Major
2021 Nordic International Piano Competition
— Second Prize in Young Talents Category
Gershwin, Rhapsody in Blue
2021 Nordic International Piano Competition
— Best 20th Century Piece in Young Talents Category
Gershwin, Rhapsody in Blue
2021 International Concerto Competition
— American Protégé Judges’ Distinction Award Winner
Gershwin, Rhapsody in Blue
2021 New Music International Concerto Competition
formerly known as New Music School Concerto Competition
— Winner
Gershwin, Rhapsody in Blue
2021 Walgreens National Concerto Competition
— Honorable Mention
Gershwin, Rhapsody in Blue
2021 DePaul Concerto Festival for Young Performers
— Honorable Mention
Piano Concerto No. 23 in AM, K. 488, Mvt 1
2020
2020 Radio Premiere of Original Composition
WFMT 98.7 Introductions, July 4th 2020
Gershenhorn, Emotions of a Covid-19 Lockdown
2020 Radio Broadcast Debut as Pianist
WFMT 98.7 Introductions, December 26, 2020
Chopin, Fantasy Impromptu, Op. posth. 66
Bach, Italian Concerto, BWV 971
Beethoven, Piano Sonata No. 17, Op. 31: No. 2 “The Tempest” III. Allegretto
Rachmaninoff, Prelude Op. 3, No. 2 in C# minor
Liszt, Consolations, S. 171a: No 3, Lento, quasi recitativo
Debussy, Estampes, L. 100, Jardins sous la pluie
2020 Regional Steinway Virtual Piano Competition
Winner —
Beethoven, Piano Sonata No. 17, Op. 31: No. 2 “The Tempest” III. Allegretto
Liszt, Consolations, S. 171a: No 3, Lento, quasi recitativo
Composition Briefing with Augusta Read Thomas
Repertoire Augusta Read Thomas — Amalgam (2020), Arc I: Invocation, Arc II
I have been honored to be asked to give the USA Premier of Augusta Read Thomas’s new composition. This was my initial briefing with Augusta on her piece.
2020 MTNA Regional Composition Competition
Honorable Mention
Gershenhorn, Emotions of a Covid-19 Lockdown
2019 MTNA Regional Composition Competition
Winner
Gershenhorn, Preludes
2019 MTNA National Composition Competition
Finalist
Gershenhorn, Preludes
Private Study with Steven Osborne
Repertoire — Bach, Italian Concerto, BWV 971
2020 Seattle International Piano Festival
Bach Festival - 10-13 French Overture/Chromatic Fantasy/Italian Concerto
Gold Medal —
Bach, Italian Concerto, BWV 971
Private Study with Paul Lewis
Repertoire — Beethoven, Piano Sonata No. 17, Op. 31: No. 2 “The Tempest”
2020 Sejong Cultural Music Competition
Junior Division Finalist
Chopin, Scherzo No. 2 in B-flat minor, Op. 31
Kim, Kwejina
2020 New Music School Concerto Competition
Semi-Finalist —
Prokofiev Piano Concerto Op. 10 No. 1, Movement 1
Late 2019
Masterclass with Mary Sauer
Repertoire — Prokofiev, Piano Concerto No. 1, Op. 10
Rehearsal Meeting with Daniil Trifinov and Michael Tilson Thomas
Sami had the opportunity to visit with Daniil and Michael during a rehearsal in Miami, Florida to discuss his performance the previous night at the Els for Autism event. Sami let MTT know he can not wait to perform under his baton!
Els for Autism @ Work Summit 2019
Opening Keynote Performance & Speaker
Liszt — Etudes de concert, S. 144: No. 3, Un Sospiro (Allegro affettuoso) in D♭Major
Chopin - Fantasy Impromptu, Op posth 66
Diverse Minds Charity Gala for SAP, Inc, London UK
— Keynote Performer and Speaker
Etudes de concert, S. 144: No. 3, Un Sospiro (Allegro affettuoso) in D♭Major
