Described as “a composer of rare emotional depth and orchestral brilliance” and praised for music that is “both visceral and transcendent”, Sam Lipman is an award-winning composer whose works blend orchestral color, lyricism, and dramatic narrative, transforming time-honored forms with a fresh, modern perspective. His compositions have been performed by ensembles such as the New The Austin and New Jersey Symphony Orchestras, at Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center, captivating audiences with their striking emotional power.

His The Unbroken Call – Trumpet Concerto received four standing ovations at its premiere and is the subject of an upcoming national PBS documentary. The work reflects his deep interest in musical narrative and orchestral drama, while his recent orchestral ballet, MoonFall, premiered to a sold-out two-week run in May 2024 and was nominated for 12 B. Iden Payne Awards. He is currently composing a new work in collaboration with Grammy-winning soprano Hila Plitmann and Texas Poet Laureate Carrie Fountain, exploring the rich textures of language and voice.

Beyond the concert hall, Lipman has composed for film and multimedia, orchestrating for Terrence Malick’s Way of the Wind and co-scoring Richard Linklater’s Where’d You Go, Bernadette. His score for Southwest of Salem was shortlisted for an Academy Award, and his latest film scores—Night in West Texas and The Salamander King—are set for release later this year.

Lipman is deeply grateful for the unwavering support of his incredible wife, Kendra, and their children, Harper and Asher. Based in Austin, he teaches Film Scoring at the University of Texas, continuing to shape the next generation of composers while forging new frontiers in orchestral music.