Sam started school at Kellogy Elementary in Pomona and finished at Chapman University in 1998 with degrees in Violin Performance and Conducting.

We thought that music would be a good sideline for him with possibilities of a scholarship to play his way through college. Now we are happy that it became his professional interest. He progressed through several teachers and eventually became a member of the Orange County Youth Symphony Orchestra. As proud parents we went to NYC once to see him perform in Carnegie Hall with the OCYSO.

One special opportunity was a European tour during which he conducted Mozart on Mozart's birthday at Saalfelden, a venue just outside Salzburg, Austria, .

After graduating from Chapman Sam moved to Detroit to become the Education Coordinator for the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and Manager of the Detroit Symphony Civic Orchestra.

In August 1999 Sam married his college sweetheart, Valerie Johnson, another Chapman student and musician (French Horn). Together they settled in Detroit and spent another year there before moving back to Southern California.

In September, 2000, Sam became a music teacher at Irvine High School, teaching marching band and jazz, with a part time position at Northwood High School where teaches string orchestra. He also rejoined the staff of the Orange County Youth Symphony and is presently their manager and assistant conductor. He is working on his teaching credential at Cal State Long Beach.

Valerie is working in the Registrar's office at Chapman; and both are playing in the Chapman Symphony.

Here is a picture of a much younger Sam with his Grandfather Melvin Luscia on the right and Linda's uncle Joe Cortopassi on the left. Before Joe, who also played the violin, passed away Sam was able to play the violin for him.