We are pleased to shine our next spotlight on MusicLink student Samuel Norton, a piano student of Sylvia Lange of Maple Grove, MN, who was recently awarded the 2022 MusicLink Senior Award of Excellence. Samuel began exploring music at the age of three through The Kiddie Keys Program in Green Bay, Wisconsin. He started private piano lessons at the age of five, followed by violin lessons a few years later. Throughout the years, Samuel has performed in the State Honors Contest, Minnesota Music Teachers Forum Recitals, several duets at the Minnesota Music Teachers Association Ensemble Festival, and will be playing Beethoven’s Sonata Pathetique at the Senior Honors Recital this summer.

Samuel continues to advance his musical knowledge and skills through the completion of Theory and Syllabus Exams. Additionally, he has played for the Greater Twin Cities Youth Symphony as a violinist and sings with the Chesterton Academy Choir. He has earned High Distinction on 7 levels of piano exams and has received several Honors ratings in MMTF recitals. He has also participated in the MMTA Honors Concert as a State Contest winner. Samuel will attend Thomas Aquinas College, in Santa Paula, California this fall.

Samuel says, “I love sharing with others what I was fortunate enough to have had shared with me by my parents and music teachers, namely the often-forgotten beauty in Classical music. To me, there is no better feeling than introducing someone to a completely new style of music, and then watching them enjoy it even though they were initially hesitant. As I move forward into college, I am sure I will cross paths with those who were not as fortunate as I was. Thankfully the college I will be attending has a strong musical culture and curriculum.”