SAMUEL FORMICOLA
Violin/Viola

Samuel Formicola received his bachelor of music degree from the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University in Houston, Texas, as a student of Camilla Wicks. He studied in Oslo, Norway for two years, earning an Artist Diploma degree at the Barratt-Dues Musikkinstitutt, under the tutelage of Stephan Barratt-Due. While in Norway, Mr. Formicola was the leader/conductor of his school’s youth chamber orchestra. He also performed the Korngold violin concerto with the Stavanger Symphony, and held a position with the Oslo Philharmonic, touring extensively throughout Europe under the direction of Mariss Jansons. He later studied at the European Mozart Academy in Krakow, Poland, performing chamber works in Krakow, Prague, and Florence.

A member of the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra viola section, Mr. Formicola is also a violinist. In addition to his position with LACO, Mr. Formicola is the principal viola of the Pasadena Pops Orchestra. He has held positions with the Colorado Symphony and the Concerto Soloists Chamber Orchestra in Philadelphia, and has worked extensively with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. Mr. Formicola toured Mexico with the Orchestra of the Californias and has performed with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Los Angeles Opera Orchestra, and the San Diego and Pacific Symphonies.

Active in chamber music, Mr. Formicola has performed with the Capitol Ensemble, the Vista Trio, the Debussy Trio, the New Holywood String Quartet, the California String Quartet, and with pianist Menahem Pressler of the Beaux Arts Trio. In addition, he has performed at the LA County Museum of Art on KMZT’s program, Sundays Live. He is co-director/co-founder of the Gold Coast Chamber Music Festival in Woodland Hills, California. Mr. Formicola maintains a private teaching studio, works in the Hollywood studios, and serves in the worship arts ministry at Calvary Chapel Thousand Oaks.

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