New Musician Spotlight: Samuel Sun
Updated: 5 hours ago
Our next musician feature is tenure track section violist Samuel Sun! Welcome to Nashville Sam!
🏠 Your Hometown: Cupertino, California
🎼 Age You Started Playing: I began playing violin around age 8 or 9. It took me a while, but I finally joined the dark side and switched to viola when I was in my early twenties halfway through undergrad.
🎻 Why You Chose Your Instrument: The first few times I played a viola, I fell in love with the darkness and richness of its sound. I also love its role in the orchestra as a middle voice and the unique color and soul that a viola section brings to the collective sound. There is a quote out there that if the orchestra was a body, the violas would be its heart!
🎶 Program You’re Looking Forward to This Season and Why: I am very much looking forward to the program with Brahms’ German Requiem. Brahms is one of my all-time favorite composers and I’m excited to play this masterwork for the first time! On the Pops side I’m looking forward to the concert featuring the music of Joe Hisaishi, as I am a big fan of his music and the Studio Ghibli movies.
✈️ Hidden Talents and Hobbies: I wouldn’t call it a talent per se, but I love aviation and going plane spotting. In another life I would have pursued a career in commercial aviation! If I have a clear view of the sky and can look at a plane for more than five seconds I can probably tell you what exact aircraft type it is. I am by no means talented, but I also love playing racquet sports like table tennis and pickleball.
🍜 Favorite Nashville Restaurant: I am a big fan of raw fish and seafood, so I am always on the hunt for good Sushi and Poke places. So far my favorite has been Aloha Fish Company near Centennial Park.
🐶 Dog or Cat? Definitely a dog person! I don’t mind cats at all, I am just unfortunately very allergic. I don’t have any pets at the moment, but I adore Corgis and Shiba Inus and would love to have one (or both) at some point!
🎧 Favorite Non-Classical Music: I especially love non-classical artists that are influenced by classical traditions. I am a big fan of artists like Bill Evans, Chris Thile, Regina Spektor, Ben Folds, and Hiromi.
