Samantha is a professional violinist and music educator in the Greater Houston area with over 10 years of experience in private teaching. A Houston native, Samantha attended Parker Elementary, Meyerland Middle School, and the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts. She holds a Bachelor of Music in Violin Performance from the University of Houston’s Moores School of Music and a Master of Music in Violin Performance from Florida State University, where she studied under Dr. Shannon Thomas. 

​

During her collegiate years, Samantha was an active performer and recipient of numerous scholarships, including the Clara Freshour Nelson Music Scholarship and the Richard Y. Grant Scholarship. She was also awarded a full Helen B. Olshan Fellowship to participate in the Texas Music Festival Orchestral Institute. She served as Assistant Concertmaster of the Moores School Ballet and Opera Orchestra in Houston and the Florida State University Chamber Orchestra. 

​

Samantha began her musical journey as a mariachi musician and ballet folklórico dancer, performing at renowned events including the Latin Grammys, the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Mariachi Competition, and Mariachi Espectacular de Albuquerque. She has performed alongside distinguished Latin artists, including Grammy Award-winning Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán, Amanda Miguel, Jorge Celedón, Diego Verdaguer, and Yolanda del Río. 

​

As an active educator, Samantha has worked with numerous youth music organizations throughout the Greater Houston area. She has served as a faculty artist for the American Festival for the Arts Chamber Academy and Summer Festival and as a mentor for Virtuosi of Houston. She has also played a key role with the Houston Youth Symphony’s CODA program, an El Sistema-inspired initiative providing violin instruction to students at Title I schools. Samantha currently serves as the acting FBISD liaison for CODA, teaching approximately 50–60 students annually at Ridgemont and Blueridge Elementary Schools. In addition, she was selected to participate in the Teaching Artists Training Institute 2025–2026 Lab Cohort V, representing the Houston Youth Symphony. 

​

Samantha is also an active orchestral and freelance performer. Her professional experience includes serving as a section violinist with the Northwest Florida Symphony Orchestra and as Assistant Principal Second Violin with the Galveston Symphony Orchestra. She has also performed with Sinfonia Gulf Coast, the Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra, the Texas Medical Center Orchestra, New Texas Sinfonia, Houston Broadway Theatre, Elan Artists, and the Houston Ballet. 

Currently, Samantha holds a tenured position as Principal Second Violin with the Symphony of Southeast Texas in Beaumont, Texas. Outside of music, Samantha enjoys traveling, discovering great coffee shops, and spending time with her friends and family