Quotes & Biography

On Rhapsody in Blue, “Truly riveting performance, great stage presence, perfect combination of energy and charm.”
~ Olga Kaler, Cleveland Institute of Music

On Mozart Concerto, “. Very nice "cadenza" at the end of the development, I especially appreciated the echo effect, I wasn't expecting it and I will steal this from you if I may!”
~ Christopher Harding, University of Michigan Piano Faculty

“I recorded Sami, aged 11, for his debut radio recital on his hometown classical station. He brought a lovely range of repertoire, and everyone involved in the production was highly impressed with him and his performances. I will follow his career with interest.”

~ Robbie Ellis, Producer of Introductions on WFMT Chicago

“We’re huge fans of Sami. We see him as a powerful advocate, not only for autism, for the piano, and for music education, but also for positivity and the kind of attitude we should all have. We love that he’s embraced something extraordinarily difficult, like the piano, and instead of adding to a list of inhibitive life challenges, he’s found a way to use it to accentuate the upside of everything he is inside. When we do this, we tap into what Beethoven called the Divine inside all of us. Please SHARE this video!”
~ Jon Schmidt & Steve Nelson, The Piano Guys

Lovely to see the talented @samigershenhorn play so beautifully at last night’s Els for Autism kickoff to the 2019 Autism at Work Summit.
~ Ernie Els, Pro Golfer

He was such a force to see live. Then, when he spoke, that was it! This kid is going places!
-Sounds Like Autism podcast

Bios

Sami Gershenhorn
Pianist. Composer. 10th Grader.

The passion and prowess emanating from his piano is the perfect personification of Sami Gershenhorn. One moment, it’s feverish intensity. Another, it’s sheer whimsical innocence. Like any typical 10 year-old, Sami has rotated through several “fixation du jour” interests, solving Rubik’s cubes or playing soccer just to name a few. However, though hobbies like these have come and gone, his love for the piano has not.

As a child, music reached Sami on a deeply emotional level. Diagnosed at two years old with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Sami’s characteristics are dominated by auditory hypersensitivity. Ironically. the same auditory system responsible for countless meltdowns is also the source of his gifted ear and ability to learn complex classical pieces.

Like many children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Sami can hyperfocus on one activity for hours. As a toddler, he would sit trying to recreate classical children's pieces, such as Mozart's “Ah vous dirai-je, Maman” (aka Twinkle Variations) and Beethoven's “An die Freunde” (aka Ode to Joy). Recognizing his rare gift (that Sami affectionately refers to as his superpower), Sami’s parents enrolled him in New Music School, with its Founder, Francisco Ybarra as his teacher. 

Immediately Francisco recognized Sami’s natural talent. By age six, Sami insisted on learning pieces that most teenagers strive to learn, such as Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s, Rondo Alla Turca and Ludwig van Beethoven’s, “Moonlight Sonata”. Since his first solo recital at New Music School, performing Dmitri Kabalevsky’s, Etude in A minor (Opus 27, no. 3), Sami has performed more than 30 recitals among his peers. 

At age 10, Sami made his first public performance as a professional pianist in London, performing Frederic Chopin’s, “Etude Op 25, no. 2 in F minor”  and Franz Liszt’s,  “Etudes de concert, S. 144: No. 3, Un Sospiro (Allegro affettuoso).” He is currently preparing for his second recital and national and international competitions, and has performed around the world, in London, New York City, Miami, and his own home town of Chicago.

Sami is nurtured by an incredible team, led by his teacher Francisco, retired Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s Principal Pianist Mary Sauer, pedagogue and practice reading coach, Lia Kim. Sami, at 11 years old, made his debut radio performance on WFMT 98.7 in December 2020, performing works by Johann Sebastian Bach, Ludwig van Beethoven, Franz Liszt, Frederic Chopin, Sergei Prokofiev, and a new piece composed for him. Also on WFMT, Sami’s original composition Emotions of a COVID-19 Lockdown was premiered on July 4, 2020. Based on his recent successes, Sami has been asked to give the US Premier of Augusta Read Thomas’s newest work, Amalgam for solo piano in 2021. Recently, he was awarded the Judges Distinction Award for the 2021 American Protege International Concerto Competition, Sami has won numerous awards including the 2021 NMS Piano Concerto Competition, performing Rhapsody in Blue by George Gershwin and received an Honorable Mention at the DePaul Concerto Festival performing a concerto by Mozart..

Despite the daily challenges living with Autism Spectrum Disorder, Sami is a thriving and happy child with a sense of belonging and gratitude. He speaks openly and honestly about his “super power,” embracing the role Autism plays in his ability to think differently and offer the world his unique gifts and perspectives. Most importantly, as unique and special Sami is, he is still a typical 13 year boy. When not at the piano, you’ll often find him cruising on his electric scooter, watching funny YouTube videos or simply spending time being silly with his sister, Layla. 

Coming Soon July 2024
Short Form Download (150 Words) - Updating
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Official Photos