Violin & Viola Lessons with

Samuel Kelder

Described as “dynamic and committed” by the Boston Globe, Dr. Samuel Kelder performs regularly with ensembles A Far Cry, Boston Modern Orchestra Project, Guerilla Opera, Callithumpian Consort, Sound Icon, and regional symphony orchestras including Rhode Island Philharmonic, Portland (ME) Symphony, Cape Cod Symphony (guest principal), Cape Cod Chamber Orchestra (principal viola), and the New Bedford Symphony. He is an avidly sought after chamber musician and soloist across the East Coast, and has performed with members of JACK, Muir, Ulysses, Argus, Aeolus, and Aizuri quartets; and faculty members of New England Conservatory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Mannes the New School for Music, Boston University, Boston College, Longy at Bard, and Wellesley University. 

Sam joined the Boston based string trio Sound Energy in 2018, an ensemble dedicated to searching for ways to push the traditional violin-viola-cello combination to represent the bold and daring voices of 20th- & 21st-century composers. Their work includes many commissions for string trio, and a residency at Temple University in 2018/2019. Additionally, Sam is co-founder of viola duo Shizuka with Hannah Rose Nicholas, whose mission is to expand the repertoire for the alto pairing while pursuing opportunities to work with young composers and performers at the university level. They have given masterclasses and performances at Tufts University and Boston University, and were awarded an artist residency at Mise En Place in New York City. 

Sam has also performed as the featured artist at Third Practice Electroacoustic Festival (VA) and as soloist at New York City Electroacoustic Music Festival. He has toured internationally with the Lucerne Festival Alumni Ensemble, Penderecki Academy, and was guest artist with the Arctic Philharmonic of Norway in 2018. 

Sam is a passionate educator, and teaches at Boston University Tanglewood Institute as viola coach and mentor, and at the Summer Institute for Contemporary Performance Practice.