Published Thursday, October 3, 2002
to spotlight
local student
By Joe Pinchot
Herald Staff Writer
Normally a member of the Greenville Symphony Orchestra's horn section, Nick Samson is used to being anonymous.
"You're so far back you don't have to wear pants," the 17-year-old Greenville High School senior said of the horn section's stage placement.
The trumpeter will be front and center on the stage Saturday for his debut as a classical soloist.
Nick appears relaxed for his impending performance of the third and final movement of Johann Nepomuk Hummel's Trumpet Concerto in E flat.
"Obviously, there's more to think about than sitting in the back of the orchestra," said the Hempfield Township resident. "I won't say it's scary. I'm not losing any sleep over it."
The piece is standard literature for trumpet players, although the concert will mark the first time Nick has played it publicly.
He has used Wynton Marsalis' version as a base line, and worked on it with teacher Christopher Krummel, professor of trumpet at the Dana School of Music, Youngstown State University.
"There's not a lot of improvising in it," he said of the five-minute movement. "It's just playing what's on the page."
New symphony conductor and Music Director Michael Gelfand said many board members and teachers have praised Nick's talent and ability.
"I was most pleasantly surprised to find that they were modest -- he was even better than that," Gelfand said. "He is really terrific and he has been a delight to work with."
First playing with Greenville in 1999, Nick is a member of many groups, and also plays piano and percussion. At school, he plays in a number of bands and sings in the choir, which he accompanies on piano.
The son of Dave and Barb Samson is principal trumpet of the Youngstown Symphony Youth Orchestra. Awards have included invitations to play at the National Trumpet Conference at George Mason University, the Slippery Rock University Creative and Performing Arts Academy and Mellon Jazz Festival, Pittsburgh, master classes and concert.
While Nick plans to study music education at YSU, he wants to keep playing. He decided against studying performance because of the difficulty many players have in finding enough work to sustain a career.
"To get a performance thing going, you have to be perfect," he said. "You have to be in the practice room eight hours a day. That's not my style. It's pretty stressful to rely on performance."
The concert's other featured soloist, pianist Roman Rudnytsky, has managed to foster a world-class performance career while teaching at YSU.
Rudnytsky will play George Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue."
"Roman is a true piano virtuoso who continues to concertize throughout the entire world," said Gelfand, who plays with him in the Amici Trio and has conducted him at other concerts. "He is the consummate professional, always prepared, always a good humored collaborator."
Rudnytsky received bachelor's and master's degrees in piano performance from the Juilliard School of Music on New York and has played in 75 countries. He has been on the piano faculty at YSU since 1972, and received the Distinguished Professor Award in 1990.
"His performances are always amazing and, if the audience coaxes him just a little bit, he might be persuaded to delight them with some pianistic fireworks after the Gershwin," Gelfand said.
The rest of the program is Tchaikovsky's "Coronation March," Mozart's "Eine Kleine Nachtmusik," John Williams' "Harry Potter Symphonic Suite," Brahms' "Hungarian Dance No. 5," selections from "Oklahoma," and the finale of Dvorak's "From the New World" symphony.
"I tried to pick music that everyone could identify with," Gelfand said. "This concert is like a terrific meal, with tasty appetizers, wonderful main dishes, and great desserts."
Saturday's show will be at 8 p.m. in Passavant Center, Thiel College, Greenville. Tickets: at the door.
You can e-mail Herald Staff Writer Joe Pinchot at
jpinchot@sharonherald.com