Youth Orchestra
Samuel Wenger-Stickel
Samuel Wenger-Stickel is excited to return as a third-year member of the St. Louis Symphony Youth Orchestra! Sam began playing the violin at age 8, and he studies with Joo Kim. He previously studied with Angie Smart.
Sam is in eleventh grade at Westminster Christian Academy and is a member of his school orchestra. He was selected as a Rader Young Artist of the Chamber Music Society of St. Louis for the 2023/2024 season. He has also performed with multiple ensembles through Webster Community Music School (CMS). Since 2021, Sam has participated in the CMS Preparatory program.
Sam was a winner of the Belleville Stars of Tomorrow Competition for the 2023/2024 season and the Town and Country Symphony Orchestra Rising Talents Concerto Competition for the 2022/2023 season. He was selected for Missouri All State Orchestra in both 2023 and 2024 and won the position of principal second violin in 2024. He has received top ratings at the Missouri State Solo and Ensemble Music Festival in 2023 and 2024 for solo performance.
In the summer of 2024, Sam participated locally in the Arianna Chamber Music Festival and Credo Festival, and then attended the Bowdoin International Music Festival where he studied with Kurt Sassmannshaus. In previous summers he has attended Center Stage Strings at the University of Michigan, Green Mountain Chamber Music Festival, and Heartland Chamber Music Festival.
Sam would like to thank those who have helped him on his musical journey, including his teachers Angie Smart and Joo Kim, his school orchestra conductor Carrie Roberts, and mentors Vera Parkin, Davin Rubicz, and the Arianna String Quartet.
