“Michael Samis is a terrific cellist. His solo playing is strong and impassioned, yet exquisitely sensitive.
He has a formidable technique to back up his superb musicianship.”
~Nicholas McGegan, Music Director-Conductor

"Cellist Michael Samis and pianist Leah Bowes gave a riveting performance.
The urgency in Samis’ playing won the evening’s most enthusiastic applause."
~John Pitcher, ArtNowNashville

Michael Samis, celloRecognized for his “shining and expressive” playing (The Tennessean), “confidence, conviction and precision” (ArtsNash), and “haunting” tone (The Cincinnati Post), Michael Samis is an accomplished solo, chamber and orchestral cellist. In 2013, he gave what was likely the U.S. premiere of Carl Reinecke’s Romantic-era Cello Concerto with the Gateway Chamber Orchestra, which set the stage for his debut solo album on the Delos label.

Samis performed Dvoák’s Cello Concerto with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra at age 17. Other solo performances have included Haydn’s Cello Concerto in C Major with the Nashville Philharmonic Orchestra and Elgar’s Cello Concerto with the Bryan Symphony Orchestra. He has performed in numerous music festivals around the world, including the Pacific Music Festival in Japan, where he sat Principal Cello under the baton of Michael Tilson-Thomas.

A member of the Nashville Symphony since 1999, Samis is Co-Principal Cellist of the Grammy-nominated Gateway Chamber Orchestra, with whom he has recorded on Summit Records (Chamber Symphonies, released in 2012). He frequently performs on National Public Radio affiliate WPLN’s Live in Studio C program, both as soloist and with chamber groups. He currently plays in studio recording sessions with the Nashville Opera Orchestra and also performs improvisatory cello with bands. He recently performed on Stopping By, a Delos Productions’ CD recorded with tenor Kyle Bielfield and pianist Lachlan Glen. Samis was awarded a 2013 Tennessee Arts Commission Individual Artist Fellowship in Music for Solo Instrumental Performance.