Samuel Wenger-Stickel

Samuel Wenger-Stickel is thrilled to return as a fourth-year member of the St. Louis Symphony Youth Orchestra! Wenger-Stickel began playing the violin at age 8 and studies with Joo Kim, having previously studied with Angie Smart.  

Wenger-Stickel is a high school senior at Westminster Christian Academy and is a member of his school orchestra. Since 2021, Wenger-Stickel has participated in the CMS Preparatory program, and is excited to be a part of the Radar Young Artist Chamber Music Academy through the Chamber Music Society of St. Louis for the 2025/2026 season. 

Wenger-Stickel is a winner of the Florence Frager Young Artist Competition and the Concerto Competition with the University of Missouri St. Louis, and performed with the orchestras in Spring 2025. He also won the William Schatzkamer Young Artist Competition with the University City Symphony Orchestra, and will perform in Spring 2026. He has also been selected for Missouri All State Orchestra all throughout his time in high school, and has received top ratings at the Missouri State Solo and Ensemble Music Festival since 2023 for solo performance. Wenger-Stickel has previously won prizes in the Belleville Stars of Tomorrow Competition and the Town and Country Symphony Orchestra Rising Talents Competition. 

In the summer of 2025, Wenger-Stickel participated in the Credo St. Louis Summer Festival, and then attended Center Stage Strings and studied with Danielle Belen, Fabiola Kim, Ryan Meehan, and Simon James. In previous summers he has attended the Bowdoin International Music Festival, Center Stage Strings at the University of Michigan, Green Mountain Chamber Music Festival, and Heartland Chamber Music Festival.  

Wenger-Stickel would like to thank those who have helped him on his musical journey, including his teachers Angie Smart and Joo Kim, school orchestra conductor Carrie Roberts, and mentors Vera Parkin and the Arianna String Quartet.