Michael Samis has been a member of the Nashville Symphony since 1999.  He performs chamber music regularly with Alias, the Eclectic Chamber Players, and other collaborations, as well as appearing frequently as a solo recitalist.  Michael has participated in numerous music festivals around the world, including the Pacific Music Festival, where he sat Principal Cello under the baton of Michael Tilson-Thomas.  Other highlights include Carnegie Hall performances with the New York String Orchestra, and the chamber music festivals of Sarasota and Kent/Blossom.  Michael appeared as soloist with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra at age 17 while under the tutelage of their late cellist, Geraldine Sutyak.  He graduated from the Cleveland Institute of Music in 1999 with the Ellis A. Feiman Memorial Award in Cello.  There, Michael studied with the Cleveland Orchestra’s longtime principal cellist, Stephen Geber.  As recipient of the Nashville Symphony's Kelingos Scholarship, Michael has subsequently studied with Desmond Hoebig.