Sam Wu '13

A Musical Prodigy's Journey: Sam Wu's Story?

About Sam Wu (Class of 2013, Time at AISG: 2000-2003):???

Sam attended AISG from Kindergarten to 3rd grade. He is a composer and conductor, and on faculty at Whitman College as their Visiting Assistant Professor in Music Theory and Composition. His music explores the beauty of blurred boundaries, and centers around extra-musical themes: architecture and urban planning, climate science, and the search for exoplanets that may support life. Sam's collaborations span five continents, notably with the orchestras of Philadelphia, Minnesota, New Jersey, Sarasota, Melbourne, Tasmania, and Macao, the New York City Ballet, Sydney International Piano Competition, and conductors Osmo V?nsk?, Miguel Harth-Bedoya, and Tan Dun. Originally from Melbourne, Australia, Sam holds an AB in Music and East Asian Studies from Harvard University, a MM in Composition from The Juilliard School, and a DMA in Composition from Rice University's Shepherd School of Music.?

Kevin Baker, the director of AISG, recently hosted a heartwarming and enlightening interview spotlight with one of our former students, Sam Wu, who now resides in Walla Walla, Washington state. Last December, Sam traveled all the way back to China and visited our ErSha Campus, where he fondly remembered how his teachers at AISG had inspired him and set him on his path to becoming a composer and conductor. The seed that was planted at AISG has grown into a flourishing career, and we invite you to join Kevin and Sam as they explore his journey in music.??

How did your education and experiences at AISG prepare you for your career??

My earliest musical experiences were at AISG, where I was a student from Kindergarten until Grade 3. In fact, AISG was still based at the Greenery campus when I started out, and thus I was among the first students to experience the Ersha Island campus.??

I have fond memories of singing in a choir led by Susan Jenkins, as well as picking up the violin, and playing in a string ensemble coached by Shirley Dever. These early, formative experiences laid the groundwork for my musical journey.??

What I appreciate most about AISG’s education philosophy is the emphasis, particularly in elementary school, on play, exploration, and expressing myself creatively.?

Can you talk about your experiences with orchestras and composition pieces??

I’ve been fortunate to enjoy a multi-faceted career as a composer, conductor, and more recently, a professor of music. My favorite aspect about making music is that it takes a village––for instance, when I write music, the notation is a blueprint or a map for how the piece should unfold. However, the music only truly "exists” when it is performed onstage, for an audience. As a result, through making and teaching music, I also get to make new friends, communicate with the public, and ultimately build community across cultures.?

I also want to acknowledge my mentor, Tan Dun (Academy Award-winning composer for Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon) ––his advice, support, and inspiration for the past 13 years really helped shape me into the artist I am today. I'm particularly grateful for opportunities to assist him on tour in Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and China, where I got invaluable first-hand experience in what being a composer / conductor in the real-world entails.??

Can you tell us about a memorable moment in your career???

One highlight of my career is a full-circle moment: in 2018, I composed and conducted a new work for APAC Orchestra, Eagle Huntress, in Beijing’s Forbidden City Concert Hall. 2018 was one of those years when both APAC divisions were hosted by schools in the same city––International School Beijing (ISB) and Western Academy Beijing (WAB). As a result, they decided to host a joint concert, featuring a grand finale (my Eagle Huntress) that involves the massive forces of the combined orchestras, which of course included strings students from AISG.??

As a high school student at Shanghai American School, I played violin in multiple APAC Orchestra Festivals; being invited back to conduct my music was a way to “pay it forward”. Just as I was inspired by participating in APAC and AMIS as a student back in the day, I hoped my work also inspired a younger group of musicians.??

The full-circle comes full-circle once more: in 2025, the AMIS (Association for Music in International Schools) Asian High School Honor Orchestra Festival will be hosted by ISB, and they will once again feature Eagle Huntress on their gala concert [more details linked here ].?

What are the most important skills for success in your field??

This of course applies more generally, but as an artist I believe it is paramount to remain curious and open to new experiences, ideas, and perspectives. Both Kevin and I consider ourselves “life-long learners”, and I think that is particularly true when we work in the education sector. As a professor, I want to always lead by example––just as I encourage my students to explore and step out of their musical comfort zones, I also remind myself to continue doing so as well. Learning is a two-way street: I hope my classrooms resemble the famed bazaars along the Silk Road, where knowledge can be gathered, shared, and deepened communally.?

What advice would you give to someone interested in pursuing a career similar to yours??

When the going gets tough, have faith in yourself and your personal voice. Creating music, making art, is an intensely personal and subjective journey. It takes a remarkable amount of resilience to “power through”, but it is rewarding and worthwhile to do so. Publicly and on social media, we share our successes, but what we don’t share is the amount of rejection that is behind each success.??

What do you see as your next steps or goals in your career??

An ongoing interest of mine is collaborating across disciplines. I’ve been fortunate to have worked with choreographers and dancers (the New York City Ballet and the Harvard Ballet Company), as well as installation artists (Wa Liu and Jonathan Latiano). I look forward to exploring more avenues of cross-disciplinary projects––these allow me to consider my own music and creative process through fresh and different perspectives. While teaching at Whitman College, I also encourage music students to connect with other disciplines on campus (e.g. creative writing / poetry).??

What is the best way for?Rams to engage with you (i.e., LinkedIn, IG, etc)????

Sam’s website: https://www.samwumusic.com/ ?

Sam’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@SamWuMusic ?

Sam’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/samwuuhoo/ ?

Sam’s LinkedIn: https://www.dhirubhai.net/in/sam-wu-2a9b8891/ ?

Sam's story is a testament to the power of education and the importance of nurturing creativity in students. We are proud to have played a small part in Sam's journey and we hope that his story will inspire current and future AISG students to pursue their passions and reach for their dreams.?