(Photo Credit: The Riker Brothers)
Written by Colleen Bement, Editor
Meet celebrated composer Samuel L. Siskind.
A celebrated composer, vocalist, and actor this 16-year-old wonder is making a name for himself on stage and screen. Dubbed “the Mozart of Gen Z” by internationally renowned choral conductor Suzi Digby, Samuel L. Siskind was recently commissioned to compose a reimagined Renaissance classic for the prestigious 2023 Golden Bridge Concert. Composing since age 8, he happens to be known as the youngest composer featured at that concert. He was even handpicked by Madonna and he can be seen featured in her music video for God Control.
Next up for this super talent, he stretched his acting legs in the role of ‘Cody’ in the independent feature film “The Uncanny” which had its world premiere at the Paris International Film Festival this past February. The film is enjoying a lot of success at film festivals in the U.S. and abroad. Impressing the director he also played several related cameos and sang a solo on the soundtrack. In between his busy projects, Samuel is working on obtaining his pilot’s license. As a fan of classical music, I really enjoyed this interview. I hope that you do too.
Colleen Bement: You have been Dubbed “the Mozart of Gen Z” and you’re the youngest composer featured at the prestigious 2023 Golden Bridge Concert. I have so many questions, but let’s start here. What does it feel like to be just 16 and to be so well-known?
Samuel L. Siskind: It makes me so happy to be gaining a reputation with classical music fans and among people who have a passion for vocal scapes and great composers. I’ve been composing since age 8, and had the opportunity to meet and collaborate with some of the superheroes who are working to revive the art form. There are so many amazing artists I hope to meet. I am a proponent of beautiful music and am especially enjoying Joe Hisaishi’s gorgeous film scores right now.
CB: How did you find your passion for music, and what is your favorite instrument to compose the notes for?
SLS: I found my passion for music when my dad asked me if I wanted to take piano lessons at age 5, because he got a flier for a new music school in our town. A couple of years later, I expressed to my parents that there wasn’t enough singing in school, and they found the National Children’s Chorus, where I auditioned when I was 8 years old. Of course, my mom had been taking me to music classes since I was an infant, but this was mostly thought of as a social activity.
I first composed for a full orchestra when I was 11. I had been studying composition with a UCLA professor, Dr. Ian Krouse, and composed a waltz for two pianos. We thought it would be fun to orchestrate it for a full orchestra. I had been attending orchestra concerts for children on Saturday mornings at the LA Phil since I was 5.
However, my favorite instrument to compose for is voice.
CB: You are already a triple threat as a composer, vocalist, and actor. Now let’s switch gears to your acting career where your film “The Uncanny” enjoyed its world premiere at the Paris International Film Festival. Tell us about your character, and your experience on the set?
SLS: I was originally cast as a disturbed preteen named Cody, and after we shot the first scene, the director expanded my role to play several related cameos and sing a solo on the soundtrack. She was very easy to work with and made it fun. The roles were in different decades, and the brilliant costumes truly made me inhabit my characters. The experience of being on set was really comfortable, even though a lot was happening around me and sets are generally hectic. There were several other child actors, and the director, writer, and lead actors were literally family and treated the talented ensemble cast very well. Everyone was genuinely happy to be on the film and it was a very talented international group. Of course, I was most enthusiastic about getting to sing a lovely Italian aria, “Panis Angelicus,” for the film’s climactic scene. The film is enjoying many successes right now at film festivals in the U.S. and abroad.
CB: You’re working on getting your private pilot’s license, right? Do you even have your driver’s license yet?
SLS: Although I’ve been learning to fly a small plane around Southern California since my 13th birthday, I’ve been so busy this year that I haven’t had the chance to read the DMV booklet and take the test. But I am excited to finally get on that!
CB: When it’s time to kick back and relax, what are you wearing?
SLS: Flex joggers (cozy pants), activewear hoodie (cozy jacket), turtleneck (cozy shirt) – i.e., comfy clothes.
Speed Round:
Favorite book: The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse
Marvel or DC? Marvel (Ant-Man)
Dawn or Dusk? Dusk (night owl)
Pie or cake? Pie (apple)
Who inspires you? Elon Musk (Tesla, SpaceX)
Follow Samuel on Instagram and Twitter
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