Sam Armstrong began playing the trombone at age 12. His primary teachers were Byron Peebles and James Miller of the Los Angeles Philharmonic. In 2007, he won first prize at the Pasadena Showcase Competition and was a finalist at the International Trombone Association "Gagliardi" Competition, he was also a featured soloist at the MidEurope Festival in Schladming, Austria. He later became principal trombone of the American Youth Symphony, performing with Hollywood greats Alan Silvestri, David Newman and John Williams.

 

In 2008, Sam began his studies with Joseph Alessi at The Juilliard School in New York City, receiving the Jerome L. Greene Fellowship. In New York he had the opportunity to collaborate with composers John Adams, John Corigliano, and Steve Reich, and record works by John Zorn and Jonathan Dawe. In 2013, Sam premiered the Erhu Suite by Los Angeles based film composer Nathan Wang (adapted by Charles Fernandez). Originally written for a 72 episode Chinese television series about the life of general Yue Fei, it is comprised of themes from this score. Sam would tour with the L.A. Symphonic Winds throughout China performing this work with his brother, Michael, at the podium. Erhu Suite was met with overwhelming acclaim in cities Hangzhou, Nanchang, Ningbo, Shanghai and Taicang.

 

Sam graduated from the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, receiving the Ruth and Morris Williams Jr. scholarship while studying with Nitzan Haroz and Matthew Vaughn. He has performed with the Los Angeles Philharmonic and as guest principal with the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra. Sam currently plays 2nd trombone with the Singapore Symphony Orchestra and solo trombone with the Lion City Brass Band. The Singapore-based brass band serves as a fun and challenging opportunity to continue developing advanced brass technique and musicality, as well as being a source of wonderful fellowship.