“It [Music] really just felt like a normal part of life – I honestly can’t remember a time when it wasn’t there.”
As a part of his early involvement in AdYO’s programs, Sami joined the Adelaide Youth Strings (AYS). This, alongside his enrolment at a primary school with an amazing music program, helped him develop a foundational ear for various rhythms, melodies and sounds. At this time, his father, Martin Butler OAM was the conductor for the Junior Strings, which also had a major influence on his musical development. He continued this pathway, eventually progressing into the Adelaide Youth Sinfonia (AdSi).
“I started on violin as a young child, which seemed inevitable coming from string-playing parents. My dad was the conductor of AYS, now Junior Strings (and he still is the conductor ~20 years later!), so I joined and played until I moved up to AdSi, now Sinfonia.”
This was a pivotal moment in his life, paving the way for many remarkable opportunities that carried into adulthood. It was during his university years that he became much more serious about percussion, playing with the Adelaide Youth Orchestra for the first time. He also enrolled to study at the Elder Conservatorium of Music, where he was able to meet one of the most influential figures in his life, Amanda Grigg.
“After finishing high school, I started my music degree at the Elder Conservatorium of Music, studying with Amanda Grigg, who was the cornerstone of my development as both a musician and a person.”
Throughout his education, he was also able to attain profound musical connections and opportunities. Many of these connections were percussionists and timpanists who, like Sami, had received a lot of formal training. His experience with the Australian Youth Orchestra, provided him with opportunities such as an international tour, a “TAPS” percussion festival invitation, and a study trip to the USA.
Additionally, Sami went on to successfully audition for the Sydney Symphony Orchestra Fellowship programme from 2017-2018.
“I’ll forever be grateful for the opportunity to be part of the Fellowship program, and absolutely need to mention Rebecca Lagos, Timothy Constable, Mark Robinson, Rick Miller, and Roger Benedict as hugely influential musicians and people in my life”
Due to COVID, his musical endeavours in percussion had temporarily slowed. However, he was able to persist despite this setback, successfully auditioning for a position with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra in 2021 as Associate Principal Percussionist/Timpanist. Simultaneously, he had successfully landed his role with AdYO’s Artistic Team, and to this present day he confidently directs the young musicians of the AdYO Percussion Ensemble.
“I really think it’s the social aspects of youth orchestras that made the biggest difference for me and so many others I know. For many people, AdYO is the place where you finally find ‘your people’ and feel like you belong, and it’s special seeing this with some of my current students. There’s something special about youth orchestras in this regard that you won’t even find in any professional orchestra.”
Besides music, Sami spends his days enjoying cricket and embracing life as a devoted husband and an adoring father to his little one.
Article by Annika Acosta
