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Sam Garner is an active composer and performer for a wide range of venues and media. He competed in the national Philips Jazz Piano Competition. His performance in front of a panel of world-class musicians resulted in a third place award. World-class pianist Dan Haerle has featured Sam in the Dallas Jazz Piano Society’s “Catch a Rising Star” concert 3 years in a row. In addition, Sam’s compositions were selected as audition music for the Texas All-Region and All-State Jazz Band competition for 2 years in a row.
Sam also composed music for a short film titled Lucky Red; this later went on to be featured on CBS news and in the Dallas International Film Festival. He has composed for numerous short films that were placed in nationwide festivals and another that won TXU’s “Light up the Red Carpet” contest.
Sam has composed for a variety of videogames, ranging from top down shooter action games to creepy ambient forest games. His music is also featured as theme and background music for a television show located in Nashville, Tennessee. He has also had success in composing for music libraries/catalogues where his music is featured in a wide range of locations like business/corporate meetings to videogames.
Sam recently accepted a prestigious and competitive scholarship to University of Miami for the Masters in Media Writing and Production degree for the 2013-2014 school year.
For such a young man, Sam has enjoyed a long career in music. He has performed and composed music for over 15 years. His career began early with performances at the age of six and gigs at the age of ten. Sam maintains a busy performing schedule playing at a church that broadcast worldwide on a weekly basis. He’s also stayed busy performing with various gigs like leading a weekly trio gig at a Cigar Lounge, playing solo piano at FulBelli’s, a fine-dining downtown sensation in Sherman, Texas, a live recording with HisSoundMinistries in Dallas, Military balls and ceremonies, various weddings ranging from traditional to Jewish, creating charts and backing tracks for cover bands, all while staying busy during the day composing for different clients.
In his career Sam has played for many distinguished individuals including U.S. Congressman Ralph Hall, U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchinson, Texas Senator Bob Duell, world class saxophonist Bob Mintzer, Count Basie Orchestra member Byron Stripling, Dave Matthews’ saxophonist Jeff Coffin, Grammy award winning Joe McCarthy, Las Vegas singer Steve Lippia, members of Maynard Ferguson’s band, among other famous local musicians.