SAM  LIPMAN  MUSIC

Feb 8th 2020

Sam got a nod from the folks at Variety Magazine for his score to Ramona Diaz' soon-to-be-released documentary A Thousand Cuts, hailing "Lipman's Intriguing score, seedy buzz, dystopian sci-fi, nervy, noirish sheen." The full review can be read here.

Feb 6th 2020

Sam is thrilled to have been commissioned a work for Cello and Piano by the Amatius Foundation. The work will be performed by renowned cellist Hai Zhang-Olevsky, and premiere at the Georgetown Festival of the Arts in June 2020. The work will commemorate Mrs. Jane Sibley, CEO of The Austin Symphony for over twenty years, and Austin's most beloved patron of the arts. The work takes its title of Pluma del Aura from the buzzard feather that Jane wore in her hairstyle for all those years, and takes musical themes of resilience and fortitude from Jane's biopic Jane's Window. 

Feb 6 2020

Sam is excited to have been commissioned by RotoЯ Brass, twins Joe Cooper (Assistant Professor of Trumpet at Oklahoma University) and Zach Cooper (Assistant Professor of Horn, University of Montana) for their upcoming performance at The International Duo Symposium at The University of Montana, March 28th. The piece will riff heavily on the Cooper twins being, well identical twins - with instrument swapping, and will leave the audience guessing who is who!

Feb 5th 2020

Sam is excited to have signed on with director Tyler Russell to score his forthcoming horror film 'Cyst' starring George Hardy and Eva Habermann

Feb 5th 2020

Sam is excited to be joining fellow composer Harlan Hodges under the leadership of Industry Veteran Helen Nightengale at Los Angeles talent agency Aporia Entertainment. 

Feb 5th 2020

Sam will be appearing at this year's SXSW's, both at the screening of A Thousand Cuts, as well as indie event 20x2. 

Feb 5th 2020

Sam has signed with LA Based music production crew South Music, where he will collaborate on national TV commercial content

Feb 4 2020

Sam has accepted a Professorship at Butler School of Music, starting Fall 2020 where he will be creating and teaching his own Film Scoring course, in connection with UT's Radio Television Film, and Audio and Entertainment Technologies Departments.

Feb 02 20

After a powerful premiere at Sundance Film Festival, we're excited to announce that Ramona Diaz' A Thousand Cuts will be featured at this year's SXSW festival, where Sam will be appearing to speak about his work on the film.

Jan 1 2020

Sam will be a featured ASCAP composer at this year's Sundance film festival, at the ASCAP Cafe, alongside such greats as Hans Zimmer, Nico Muhly and St. Vincent. 

Jan 1 2020

Sam has signed on with filmmaker Ramona Diaz to score her upcoming documentary A Thousand Cuts, a close look at the tightening political scene and growing authoritarianism in Manila, Philippines. The film centers around Maria Ressa and her famed News Outlet Rappler as they find themselves increasingly under government threat. The film features George and Amal Clooney, and will premiere in the exclusive US Documentary category at this January's Sundance Film Festival.

06/06/2019

Sam is thrilled to have won the Austin Critics Table Award for Best Sound, for his score to Dan Caffrey's Matawan. For this score Sam designed a 17.2 surround system installed in UT's Payne Theater, including speakers under seats to simulate an underwater shark world. He's grateful for assistance from Carolina Perez, Jake Stein, Maylissa Quiles. 

02/24/2019

Sam is delighted to have been commissioned by cellist Paul Olefsky's Amatius Foundation to compose a new choral work, to premiere in NY's Carnegie Hall on March 10th. He's especially delighted that his wife Kendra Lipman will be conducting. Titled 'Tree of Life,' the work will be heard for the first time at the nation's annual National Youth Choir concert. The text was co-written by Sam and his great uncle Zenon, and is based on the experiences of a holocaust survival. The work is dedicated to the victims of the recent Pittsburg shooting. Sam is also commissioned as part of the same deal a new cello sonata, due later in the year.

02/24/2019

This spring Sam joins the faculty in the Arts and Entertainment Technologies Department where he'll be coaching future film and game scorers into their first projects, as Professor of Screen Scoring. Sam is excited to share his experience, and is thrilled to be a part of UT's newest, and most promising and in-demand department.

09/09/18

Sam has been commissioned to compose the Documentary Music for Richard Linklater's most recent feature film Where'd You Go Bernadette for Annapurna Pictures. The film features Cate Blanchett, Laurence Fishburne, and will premiere in March 2019. Sam is thrilled to be working with industry icons editor Sandra Adair and composer Graham Reynolds.

9/18/18

This Tuesday 6pm Sam will be talking sound design on KUT's Views and Brews live podcast from Cactus Cafe, with Carolina Perez and Rebecca S McInroy. We'll be discussing my latest creation, sound design for Dan Caffrey's coming play Matawan, featuring a 28-speaker immersive installation. Hope to see you there!

09/09/18

Sam is thrilled to be working with Southwest of Salem producer/director Deb Esquenazi in her newest venture, Myth of Monsters, a production company focussed on women of color and LGBTQ Projects. Current collaborations include a short film addressing harsh realities in a US refugee camp. 

09/09/18

Sam's first Harp Quartet, commissioned in April by UT Professor of Harp, Delaine Leonard, will premiere this December in San Antonio's TMEA convention. 

09-09-18

Sam recently accepted invitation from Sydney Placement Agency melod.ie. The partnership will place Sam's work into Sydney broadcast content, everything from advertising, film, tv and radio. Sam is excited to be expanding business into his home town of Sydney.

9/08/18

Sam recently wrapped on scoring short comedy feature Charles and the Duke, by Austin filmmaker Mike Dolan. The film chronicles the unlikely but true story of a pair of seasoned travelers dealing with a small town police altercation. Mike directed Dance with the One and has written, produced and directed many other films. Charles will likely premiere at the Sundance Film Festival this year.

6/21/2018

Austin's Blanton Museum has commissioned Sam to compose a work for Yidaki (Didgeridoo), Cello and Violin to commemorate the opening of their exhibition: Ancestral Modern: Australian Aboriginal Art from the Kaplan & Levi Collection. Boodjara (My Country) is largely inspired by the significance of water, animals, and family in aboriginal artwork. It also holds significance for Sam who hails from Sydney. Boodjara's yidakyi part will be performed by award-winning world musician Eliot Stone.

5-14-2018

Sam's ballet score CRONE has been nominated for a prestigious Austin Chronicle Critics Table Award, in the Original Composition/Score category. Winners will be announced at ceremony on Monday June 4th, so stay tuned! Nominees announced here

4/1/18

UT Professor of Harp, Delaine Leonard, has commissioned Sam for a three movement work for UT's Harp Ensemble, to premiere in the fall. Stay tuned for the date. Professor Leonard  was inspired when she 'had the opportunity to collaborate with Professor Lipman on the UT Department of Theater and Dance's premiere production of the narrative ballet "Crone" and was immediately drawn to his work. We are fortunate to have the opportunity to add music from this young, award-winning composer to our repertoire."

3-30-18

Sam has recently composed and produced a full soundtrack to coming feature film "Texas Cotton." This mystery thriller set in southwest Texas will debut in the fall, and feature a music-rich soundtrack, including songs by Mike and the Moonpies and Colter Wall. You can purchase the soundtrack here.

3-22-18

Sam has been commissioned to compose a full score including music and underscore for coming production of Matawan, a play by Dan Caffrey about the New Jersey shark attacks of 1915 that inspired the film Jaws. Sam's score will feature an immersive 30-speaker array that simulates ocean and beach sounds under the theater seats. Listen to samples here.

2/14/18

Austin's Tetractys New Music has chosen Sam as their featured Composer for their 2nd annual Composer's Portrait concert, and will feature 6 of Sam's recent works in concert this month at the trendy new soundspace - 4th Tap. In preparation, Sam has revised his award-winning song Homecoming for soprano Abigail Jackson. Amongst other works Sam will be playing a jazz set with his trio featuring Chris Maresh (bass) and Brannen Temple (drums), and present three recent movie scores.  News Story here

2/15/18

Sam has been commissioned to compose score material for the coming production of Lucy Prebble's ENRON at UT Theater. This is an exciting opportunity to work with multi-media, featuring underscore as well as an all-female barbershop quartet. More info here

10-2-2017

Sam will conduct the premiere of Crone the ballet at UT's Payne Theater in November for 9 shows. The orchestra will be prismatx ensemble, a 25-piece Austin group. CRONE will feature live projections, an in-depth lighting scheme, and a cast of 15 of UT's best dancers. More info here.

September 2017

Sam is thrilled to have been hired as full-time faculty Composer-in-Residence at UT's Department of Theater and Dance, where he will head up the scoring of theater and dance Programs, teach basic music theory to students and faculty, and head a small staff of accompanists. He's very happy to continue to work at such an excellent facility as UT. Stay tuned for program announcements, starting with the Premiere of his 30-minute orchestral ballet CRONE in November.

March 2017

Sam's 8-minute work for orchestra, Song of the Bhagavan recently won distinguished Edward J. Cone Scholarship prize. This summer Sam will spend a week at Princeton University under the guidance of renowned musicians composer Stephen Mackey and conductor JoAnn Falletta, preparing the work for performance by the NJSO on Friday July 15th as well as receiving a week of career-development opportunities with publishing-industry leaders. 

May 2017

​Sam has won a top spot in the knockout round of the Kerrville University Songwriters Contest and will be performing a set of originals at Kerrville Folk Festival on Friday May 26th at 3.30 pm on the Threadgill Stage. He will be releasing an EP of unpublished songs. 

March 2017

Sam has been commissioned by multiple-award-winning world music group ATASH to compose a full orchestral score a song 'Seven' for their forthcoming album. As a long-time huge fan of the group, Sam is very excited about this. Stay tuned for more information!

Feb 2017

'Homecoming', an aria to Austin, TX where Sam and family reside, and the third movement of Sam's 'Migrations,' has made it to the finalist round of Tony Boutté's New American Voices contest. It will be performed in concert this spring, time and location TBA, and if it wins, will be performed on a concert at the National Opera Center Recital Hall in New York. Stay tuned!

Feb 6th 2017

Sam is slated to compose a thirty-minute orchestral score for Austin ballet mastermind Dorothy Overbey's coming production CRONE.  It will premiere this March 17th in Bates Concert Hall during SXSW, performed by Austin's newest and awesomest contemporary ensemble Prismatx. The recording will be used as soundtrack for Dorothy's film, which will release later this year in exciting new Virtual Reality platform. Please go to www.rednightfallproductions.com for more information.

Dec 2016

Sam has been commissioned by Shawna Pennock of the University of Georgia, Athens to compose a new work for soprano saxophone. It will be part of a suite of etudes she is curating for students aimed at learning new extended techniques. Birds will feature multi-phonics, quarter-tones, vocalizing, and lots of other fun stuff. More info here. 

12/13/16

Sam's composition for closing credits from Southwest of Salem, "Kiss Me Goodnight" has made the shortlist against 90 other works for the 2017 Oscars. Official nominations will be published Jan 24. Stay tuned! 

12/18/2016

Sam has signed with Director/Producer Andrew Allen to compose the soundtrack for his forthcoming epic film "Glow." This multiple-protagonist drama will feature a hybrid electronic/symphonic score along with songs by FatBoy Slim and Jamie XX. Glow will release locally in the summer. Stay tuned...

Oct 21 2016

Sat Oct 15th broadcast of Sam's filmscore to Southwest of Salem on Investigation Discovery Channel reached around one million viewers, breaking records for the channel, (and Sam too). An encore presentation goes out Sunday Oct 30th from 10 am - 12pm, or watch on demand at www.idgo.com. 

Sept 18 2016

Texas Music Education juggernaut UIL have chosen Sam's Tuba Sonata Quixosis to be added to the official list of approved examination pieces, a Class 1 Tuba Recital Work. Tubists: pick up your copy here!

Sept 18 2016

Prestigious quintet the Pittsburg New Music Ensemble recently recorded Sam's Exodus on their visit to Texas under the direction of Kevin Noe, featuring the gorgeous Bass-Baritone of Timothy Jones. Exodus is the first of three songs in Sam's forthcoming Song Cycle, Migrations - a setting of three of Sam's poems, for Pierrot ensemble and Bass Baritone, and will premiere on November 3rd at Bates.

Audio here  Score here

Sept 18 2016

Read Sam's recently published interview about the making of the soundtrack of award-winning documentary Southwest of Salem.

Sept 18 2016

For the fourth year in a row, Sam will be a featured performer at Austin City Limits Festival this October. Find him every day of the festival on the VIP area stage for solo and duet performances.

Sept 5 2016

UT's Head of Brass Charles Villarubia will has chosen Quixosis to be the central feature of his forthcoming tour of Texas and Louisiana. He is very excited about the piece, and for Austinites it will be performed soon at UT. Stay tuned for dates. Pick up your copy here

Sun Sept 4th

Deb Esquenazi's groundbreaking documentary has now won over 12 prestigious awards from around the world. It will be premiering in theaters everywhere this September. Chere here for screenings!

May 24, 2016

Sam recently completed the commissioned score to this twenty minute film about life as a token minority cast member. Produced by Marcelo Telón for Creative Action, and co-sponsored by Alamo Drafthouse.  To premiere at Alamo Drafthouse on South Lamar, May 24th at 7pm. 

May 6th & 7th, 2016

A Few Sheets To The Wind, commissioned by Charlie Magnone will be opening the Ears Eyes and Feet Festival at UT's Winship building this spring. It will feature five dancers, choreographed by Aminah Maddox and Camille Collins, with live piano performance by Charlie, video production by David Molina, and 8-channel surround electronic media. Not to be missed!

April 27, 2016

Charlie Magnone premieres an eight-minute work he recently commissioned from Sam, involving inside-the-piano techniques orchestrated with live electronic accompaniment. He will perform the work as part of his DMA Final Lecture Recital at UT Austin Wednesday Apr 27 7.30pm, along with George Crumb's 5 Pieces For Piano. We're thrilled. Video/audio forthcoming. 

April 14, 2016

Southwest of Salem, a full-feature documentary Sam was commissioned to score Sept 2015 will make its World Premiere at Tribeca Film Festival this Spring. Sam is really excited to have worked on this story which follows the wrongful incarceration and eventual release thirteen years later of four women by the crooked Texas Justice System. Sam will be attending the NYC premiere and the film will go on to be a major feature at several festivals around the continent.  

March 13 2016

Sam's thrilled to have been invited back to speak at SXSW Interactive Event, "20x2" this March. Amongst 19 other victims, he will try to explain composing in two minutes. This is an awesome, hilarious, heart-breaking event, not to miss!  http://www.20x2.org

Feb 2016

Sam was recently commissioned to score a documentary based in Queens, NYC. Details can't be released yet, but click here for a sneak preview.

March 20-26 2016

Sam is excited to have been chosen as accompanist for St. Stephens Madrigal Singers to perform with them in Vienna and Salzburg in the coming month. They will perform works by Morton Lauridsen, Haydn, Schubert and more.

Feb 17 2016

Eight tracks of Sam's Electronic Ambient issue have been chosen to represent the best of UT at the opening of the brand new Center for Arts and Electronic Entertainment Technologies. Released in quadrophonic four-channel sound. Click here to listen.

April 2016

Sam has recently finished new work "Quixosis", a Tuba sonata commissioned by Franklin Piland in the fall of 2015. The work is loosely based around the well-known Cervantes masterpiece Don Quixote, and will premiere at University of Texas this coming April 5th. 

May 5th 2016

Sam's "Themes From An Imaginary Film," a new work for Symphony Orchestra, has been chosen by the Texas ECHO Symphony Orchestra to be performed at Bates Recital Hall for their coming spring concert this May. Video and recording will be forthcoming - stay tuned!