James Sample
Encyclopedia
James W. Sample was an American
conductor
.
, and began studying the violin at age ten and piano at age eleven. By the age of twenty he conducted his first symphony in Minneapolis. He earned his bachelor’s in music degree at the MacPhail School of Music in 1930. In Europe, he studied for four years receiving a diploma at the Mozarteum Salzburg in 1934, and also studied with Pierre Monteux
who was conducting the Paris Symphony. Sample also studied with Henri Verbrugghen
and Bernhard Paumgartner. He also received a doctorate in music in 1942 from the New York College of Music and a doctor of laws degree from Gannon College
in 1963.
James Sample was the Master of Music at The Blake School in Minneapolis 1929-1933. He also organized the Little Symphony of Minneapolis 1931-1933. Guest conducting in Austria and France occupied his musical efforts in 1933-1937. He was the conductor for the symphony and opera music project in Los Angeles, 1938-1942. In this capacity he led the premier of Igor Stravinsky
’s choral and orchestral setting of The Star-Spangled Banner
on October 14, 1941 at the Embassy Auditorium in Los Angeles featuring the WPA Orchestra, Los Angeles Oratorio Society, and the WPA Negro Chorus.
Beginning in 1942, he served as an assistant to Canadian conductor Wilfrid Pelletier
at the Metropolitan Opera
. He made his conducting debut at New York’s City Center Opera Company replacing Laszlo Halasz on February 25, 1944 for Friedrich von Flotow
’s opera Martha. He was with the Met and City Center Opera 1942-1945.
He guest conducted the Utah Symphony Orchestra
1945-1946 and is credited with a prominent role in the formation of that orchestra. He was the associate conductor for the San Francisco Symphony
transcontinental tour led by Pierre Monteux
in 1947. As such, he conducted the orchestra at Carnegie Hall
in “Happy Birthday to You” for Monteux’s 72nd birthday on April 4, 1947.
Sample was the conductor of the San Bernardino Symphony and Hollywood Chamber Orchestra 1947-1949. He was in charge of the KFI (Radio) Symphony Orchestra in Los Angeles 1946-49. He was conducting their Hollywood Bowl Orchestra
auditions when he was selected to be the conductor of the Oregon Symphony
. He led that orchestra, then known as the Portland Symphony, in the years 1949-1953. He also led that orchestra in performances on the “Standard Hour” radio program. Sample was credited by the orchestra’s manager Phil Hart with making the orchestra and conductor a part of community life.
He succeeded Fritz Mahler
as conductor of the Erie Philharmonic
in 1953, which he conducted 1953-1967; and became conductor of the Fort Wayne Philharmonic Orchestra
in 1967. He retired from conducting in 1982 to devote his time to composition and coaching advanced vocal students.
James Sample was married to Ernestine F. Sample (August 15, 1909-September 6, 1980). James Sample died in 1995 of a heart condition in Meadville, Pennsylvania
. He is buried in the Columbarium Chapel of Lakewood Cemetery
in Minneapolis.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
conductor
Conducting
Conducting is the art of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. The primary duties of the conductor are to unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, and to listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble...
.
Biography
Sample was born in Minneapolis, MinnesotaMinneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis , nicknamed "City of Lakes" and the "Mill City," is the county seat of Hennepin County, the largest city in the U.S. state of Minnesota, and the 48th largest in the United States...
, and began studying the violin at age ten and piano at age eleven. By the age of twenty he conducted his first symphony in Minneapolis. He earned his bachelor’s in music degree at the MacPhail School of Music in 1930. In Europe, he studied for four years receiving a diploma at the Mozarteum Salzburg in 1934, and also studied with Pierre Monteux
Pierre Monteux
Pierre Monteux was an orchestra conductor. Born in Paris, France, Monteux later became an American citizen.-Life and career:Monteux was born in Paris in 1875. His family was descended from Sephardi Jews who came to France in the wake of the Spanish Inquisition. He studied violin from an early age,...
who was conducting the Paris Symphony. Sample also studied with Henri Verbrugghen
Henri Verbrugghen
Henri Verbrugghen was a Belgian musician, who directed orchestras in England, Scotland, Australia and the United States....
and Bernhard Paumgartner. He also received a doctorate in music in 1942 from the New York College of Music and a doctor of laws degree from Gannon College
Gannon University
Gannon University is a private, co-educational Catholic university offering associate's, bachelor's, and master's degrees, certificates and doctoral degrees and is located in Erie, Pennsylvania. Gannon University has an alumni base numbering around 31,500. Current enrollment is 4,238.Gannon's...
in 1963.
James Sample was the Master of Music at The Blake School in Minneapolis 1929-1933. He also organized the Little Symphony of Minneapolis 1931-1933. Guest conducting in Austria and France occupied his musical efforts in 1933-1937. He was the conductor for the symphony and opera music project in Los Angeles, 1938-1942. In this capacity he led the premier of Igor Stravinsky
Igor Stravinsky
Igor Fyodorovich Stravinsky ; 6 April 1971) was a Russian, later naturalized French, and then naturalized American composer, pianist, and conductor....
’s choral and orchestral setting of The Star-Spangled Banner
The Star-Spangled Banner
"The Star-Spangled Banner" is the national anthem of the United States of America. The lyrics come from "Defence of Fort McHenry", a poem written in 1814 by the 35-year-old lawyer and amateur poet, Francis Scott Key, after witnessing the bombardment of Fort McHenry by the British Royal Navy ships...
on October 14, 1941 at the Embassy Auditorium in Los Angeles featuring the WPA Orchestra, Los Angeles Oratorio Society, and the WPA Negro Chorus.
Beginning in 1942, he served as an assistant to Canadian conductor Wilfrid Pelletier
Wilfrid Pelletier
Joseph Louis Wilfrid Pelletier , CC was a Canadian conductor, pianist, composer, and arts administrator. He was instrumental in establishing the Montreal Symphony Orchestra, serving as the orchestra's first artistic director and conductor from 1935-1941...
at the Metropolitan Opera
Metropolitan Opera
The Metropolitan Opera is an opera company, located in New York City. Originally founded in 1880, the company gave its first performance on October 22, 1883. The company is operated by the non-profit Metropolitan Opera Association, with Peter Gelb as general manager...
. He made his conducting debut at New York’s City Center Opera Company replacing Laszlo Halasz on February 25, 1944 for Friedrich von Flotow
Friedrich von Flotow
Friedrich Adolf Ferdinand, Freiherr von Flotow was a German composer. He is chiefly remembered for his opera Martha, which was popular in the 19th century....
’s opera Martha. He was with the Met and City Center Opera 1942-1945.
He guest conducted the Utah Symphony Orchestra
Utah Symphony Orchestra
-History:The first attempt to create a symphony group in the Utah area occurred in 1892, before Utah was a state. The Salt Lake Symphony was created and presented just one concert before disbanding. In 1902 the Salt Lake Symphony Orchestra was formed, and it remained in existence until 1911...
1945-1946 and is credited with a prominent role in the formation of that orchestra. He was the associate conductor for the San Francisco Symphony
San Francisco Symphony
The San Francisco Symphony is an orchestra based in San Francisco, California. Since 1980, the orchestra has performed at the Louise M. Davies Symphony Hall. The San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra and the San Francisco Symphony Chorus are part of the organization...
transcontinental tour led by Pierre Monteux
Pierre Monteux
Pierre Monteux was an orchestra conductor. Born in Paris, France, Monteux later became an American citizen.-Life and career:Monteux was born in Paris in 1875. His family was descended from Sephardi Jews who came to France in the wake of the Spanish Inquisition. He studied violin from an early age,...
in 1947. As such, he conducted the orchestra at Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall is a concert venue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, United States, located at 881 Seventh Avenue, occupying the east stretch of Seventh Avenue between West 56th Street and West 57th Street, two blocks south of Central Park....
in “Happy Birthday to You” for Monteux’s 72nd birthday on April 4, 1947.
Sample was the conductor of the San Bernardino Symphony and Hollywood Chamber Orchestra 1947-1949. He was in charge of the KFI (Radio) Symphony Orchestra in Los Angeles 1946-49. He was conducting their Hollywood Bowl Orchestra
Hollywood Bowl Orchestra
The Hollywood Bowl Orchestra is a symphony orchestra which is managed by the Los Angeles Philharmonic Association and plays the vast majority of its performances at the Hollywood Bowl....
auditions when he was selected to be the conductor of the Oregon Symphony
Oregon Symphony
The Oregon Symphony is an American orchestra based in Portland, Oregon. Founded as the Portland Symphony Society in 1896, it is the sixth oldest orchestra in the United States, and oldest in the Western United States...
. He led that orchestra, then known as the Portland Symphony, in the years 1949-1953. He also led that orchestra in performances on the “Standard Hour” radio program. Sample was credited by the orchestra’s manager Phil Hart with making the orchestra and conductor a part of community life.
He succeeded Fritz Mahler
Fritz Mahler
Fritz Mahler was an Austrian conductor.Mahler's father was a cousin of the composer Gustav Mahler. In Europe he became a leading conductor with such ensembles as the Berlin Radio Symphony, the Dresden Philharmonic and the Danish State Symphony. He fled Europe in 1936 for the United States...
as conductor of the Erie Philharmonic
Erie Philharmonic
The Erie Philharmonic is a professional orchestra located in Erie, Pennsylvania. The Philharmonic has held their performances at the Warner Theatre on State Street in downtown Erie since 1974.-History:...
in 1953, which he conducted 1953-1967; and became conductor of the Fort Wayne Philharmonic Orchestra
Fort Wayne Philharmonic Orchestra
The Fort Wayne Philharmonic Orchestra is a professional orchestra based in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The current Music Director is Andrew Constantine, whose contract began July 1, 2009. The orchestra's Artistic Advisor from 2008 to 2009 was Jaime Laredo, a native of Bolivia...
in 1967. He retired from conducting in 1982 to devote his time to composition and coaching advanced vocal students.
James Sample was married to Ernestine F. Sample (August 15, 1909-September 6, 1980). James Sample died in 1995 of a heart condition in Meadville, Pennsylvania
Meadville, Pennsylvania
Meadville is a city in and the county seat of Crawford County, Pennsylvania, United States. The city is generally considered part of the Pittsburgh Tri-State and is within 40 miles of Erie, Pennsylvania. It was the first permanent settlement in northwest Pennsylvania...
. He is buried in the Columbarium Chapel of Lakewood Cemetery
Lakewood Cemetery
Lakewood Cemetery is a large private, non-sectarian cemetery located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It is located at 3600 Hennepin Avenue at the southern end of the Uptown area...
in Minneapolis.