Education and Community Engagement
Sam Nester is a member of the Music History faculty at the Manhattan School of Music. He teaches undergraduate and graduate courses with a focus on 20th century Western art music and contemporary classical music (1945 - present). Additionally, he teaches Music History for the Extension division at The Juilliard School and serves as trumpet faculty for the Music Advancement Program, a Saturday instruction program that actively seeks students from diverse backgrounds underrepresented in the classical music field.
Between 2016-2021, Nester was the artistic director of Bridge Arts Ensemble, an arts education organization that partnered professional musicians with schools throughout the state of New York, offering teaching artist residencies and interactive education programming. From 2013-2018, he held the position of artistic administrator of Community Engagement at The Juilliard School, curating and designing interactive concerts for young audiences. He left this position to lead New York’s only educational British Brass Band program at St. Hilda’s & St. Hugh’s School. As director of brass bands and chair of the music department, Nester conducts ensembles and oversees the development of the city’s young brass players.
He has given masterclasses and guest lectures at The Juilliard School, New York University, George Mason University, University of Scranton, and Empire Theatres Australia.
