Adam Sammakia鈥檚 passion for music started at age 10 when he learned to play the piano. While his knowledge of music theory began early, Sammakia鈥檚 interest in creating music was solidified when he discovered jazz music. While growing up in Gunberrell, Colorado, he first pursued jazz through the Colorado Conservatory for the Jazz Arts in addition to playing in his middle school jazz band.
Sammakia鈥檚 dedication to his passion earned him recognition as the fall semester "Outstanding Graduate" of the .
The major was more than surprised when he received the news. Dr. John Davis, a professor of Jazz Studies, introduced him to an audience at a local gig Sammakia was playing.
鈥淚 never even imagined it. I didn鈥檛 consider myself as a candidate,鈥� Sammakia said. 鈥淚 am still just more surprised than anything.鈥�
A humble and gracious attitude is one thing that has contributed to Sammakia鈥檚 success. During his first years at CU, Sammakia studied molecular biology and ultimately decided that it wasn鈥檛 something he could see himself doing in the future. So he took a year off to prepare to audition into the School of Music, where his passion would be better fulfilled. Over the course of the year, he discovered the string bass to be his instrument of choice. It began when he picked up an electric bass while living in the dorms.
鈥淭he bass was the only thing I hadn鈥檛 checked out and it so happened that it was what I was playing when I got serious to pursue music again,鈥� Sammakia said. 鈥淚t also turned out to be a really good fit; it just feels comfortable. The role that the bass player plays in a band just goes with my personality.鈥�
Sammakia attributes a successful career at CU to his mentors and the community of musicians he has worked with.
鈥淎t the music school, there鈥檚 a very solid community of musicians who really challenge each other and have a lot of love for each other,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 given me the type of support network that I didn鈥檛 have before. It's been the most important thing to have a family of musicians who really can bring out the best in people.鈥�
In particular, Jazz Studies Professor Bradley Goode played a large role in his success.
鈥淏rad is so deeply educated and surrounded by jazz music. He has a very strong artistic concept and is very good at articulating and expressing that,鈥� Sammakia said. 鈥淗e鈥檚 also very good at supporting his students, while also holding them accountable.鈥�
Goode鈥檚 jam session in Westminster is where Sammakia believes his education was further enhanced.
鈥淚n my year off, I basically learned how to play the bass at his (Goode鈥檚) jam sessions. His jam session for me and other students is as much of an education tool or institution as this university has been,鈥� said Sammakia. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 where I and a lot of other players at the music school get the actual experience of playing outside of the academic world.鈥�
Along with Goode, Sammakia points to CU faculty member, Paul Romaine, who he met through the Colorado Conservatory for the Jazz Arts. Romaine co-founded the program to teach young, aspiring musicians.
After graduation, Sammakia will perform at Goode鈥檚 weekly jam session at 鈥淭he Stage at Media Strings鈥� in Westminster. He has also applied to the Japanese Exchange Program, which is something he has always wanted to do in order to gain life experience and to try his hand in teaching.
鈥淚 really want to live outside of the country and learn another language... I think it is an important component to becoming a well-rounded person,鈥� said Sammakia. 鈥淧lus, I do have a serious interest in teaching.鈥�
Sammakia鈥檚 long-term plan is to attend graduate school, but he doesn鈥檛 feel an urgency to do so right away. His advice to young students is to stay positive and to 鈥渇ind a community that supports and challenges you the most,鈥� as his peers and mentors have.
鈥淚 spent a long time not valuing the community in the beginning. Don鈥檛 be negative, be positive,鈥� Sammakia said. 鈥淭he community became the most important thing to me."