Lynn Sampson graduated from Brigham Young University High School, Provo, Utah (1967) and has a certificate in Shakespeare Studies from The Shakespeare Academy, Modesto Junior College, Modesto, CA (2001), an Associate of Arts in Theater, also from Modesto Junior College (2007), a Bachelor of Arts in Humanities from Colorado Mesa University, Grand Junction, Colorado (1990) and an Advanced Diploma in Education from The University of London (2002).
His principal teachers for classical trumpet were Dr. Newell Dayley, Professor Emeritus of Music at Brigham Young University and, at the Aspen Music School, Bernard Adelstein, former first chair trumpet of The Cleveland Orchestra. His principal teacher for jazz trumpet is Grammy award winner Roy Hargrove.
His international career began in 1989 with a recital at London's Westminster Central Hall. He has received acclaim for his interpretations of Bach. He has written a dozen solo and chamber music works as well as over 20 transcriptions for trumpet of the keyboard music of Bach. Lynn Sampson performs exclusively on CANNONBALL instruments. His trumpet is a Cannonball Stone Series "Mad Meg" dated Markneukirchen, Saxony, Germany, 2011.
His principal teacher for voice is Diana Ruggiero of The Metropolitan Opera. He was cantor for the Church of the Holy Name in San Francisco and, for sixteen years, was cantor for the Latin mass at Our Lady of the Assumption in Turlock, CA. He sang with the world famous St. Ann Chapel Choir at Stanford University
He has acted on stage and in film. His credits include "The Diary of Anne Frank," "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde," and "The Apollo of Belac." He received a Celebration of the Humanities Award for Drama in 2001 and has pioneered the teaching of Shakespeare to young children with his "Songs of Shakespeare" presentations.Lynn Sampson writes arts-related articles for publications such as the California Political Review, The American Record Guide and VALLEY VIEWS online magazine.
In 2001, he established THE SAMPSON CENTER, a home near the campus of his Alma Mater at Colorado Mesa University in Grand Junction, Colorado, to serve as recital hall, art gallery and residence for music scholarship students.
Sampson is a member of Phi Theta Kappa, the world's largest academic honor society. An avid racquetball player and cyclist, he is also a trained chef, specializing in French cuisine.
Sampson and his Modern Jazz Duo perform the old standards of the 1930s, '40s and '50s by the masters of American and Brazilian popular song, such as Cole Porter, Richard Rogers, George Gershwin and Carlos Jobim. His Jazz Ensemble presents these classics in a smooth, soft, melody-driven style. If you would like to sponsor one of our concerts, please click here to learn about our SPONSORSHIP LEVELS.
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One of his most recent performances was on Memorial Day at The Music Festival in Sacramento, California. Many in the crowd aboard the Delta King ferry boat anchored in the Sacramento River delta traveled from out-of-state, returning a third and fourth year in a row to hear Sampson perform at one of the world's largest jazz festivals.