BIOGRAPHY
Samuel Cerra, is a performer, instructor, composer, and percussionist who specializes in mallet instruments. He has extensive training in classical, jazz and contemporary music, science, and sound technology.
As a percussionist, his eclectic and versatile style is a result of researching piano technique, infusing classical training and symmetric elements into music. His peculiar approach to playing the vibraphone can be described almost as pianistic.
As a composer, Samuel’s unique conceptual way of describing stories and feelings through notes and harmony creates sparks into the audience’s heart.
Samuel Cerra has collaborated with many organizations, most notably AMA Calabria, Berklee, Longy, MABOS, and a special guest appearance with AMA little Big Band.
He has been awarded “Most Active Mallet Performer” twice by the percussion department in 2019 and 2020 at Berklee, and was recognized as the Named Scholar twice with Cherubini scholarship at Longy in 2022 and 2023.
Artist Statement
I like to see musicians as a sort of magicians because, for me, music is a potent form of magic capable of changing the human spirit. Music is a constant flow of energy that surrounds us, and I believe that through it, humans can connect with themselves, with other humans, and with the whole creation.
DEIB Statement
I moved to the US in my twenties without any English skill and I was the only Italian in my classes. This made me realize that no matter the background, there is always a way to make every single student achieving their objectives. I see teaching as a powerful merging tool and my mission is teaching what I love but in a way that everyone can understand every single concept, no matter the background they have.
Teaching Statement
Learning, to me, is a process that should be approached from the curiosity perspective. I am a Classical trained musician and I started to learn Jazz by myself because of my curiosity, before starting to study it academically. This approach has helped me so much that I decided to keep it in my studies and in life. Hence, I made it the fulcrum of my teaching style because it can help the students with some of the struggles they have when studying.