Sam Schollenberger Wins Bach Contest

Oberlin Junior, Sam Schollenberger is now the second guitarist to become a winner in our Strings Department Bach Competition. (The first was in its inaugural year, 2024, when Suvan Agarwal was one of the winners). Launched by Conservatory string student, Matilda Goldie, it assembles a jury of non-conflicted faculty and ex-faculty to assess auditions by students in the Strings Department. Uniquely, and happily, she established it to present three “winners” without ordinal preference, that is, there is no 1st, 2nd, etc, but instead simply three winners, all effectively equal.

Matilda Goldie addresses the crowd

This year, the winners were Seunne Khoo, violin, Maria-Elli Petridou, cello, and guitarist Sam Schollenberger. One stipulation of the competition is that in the final round the performer must play their selected work in its entirety. So our finals, presented in the deeply resonant Fairchild Chapel, was a gorgeous deep-dive into the solo string music of Bach. (Full program is included at the end of the post). The program began with Seunne Khoo, and her interpretation of the colossal Violin Partita 2 in Dm, BWV 1004. She played this piece superbly, landing the iconic Chaconne perfectly. It was a deeply moving performance.

Seune Khoo plays Bach’s Partita in Dm in Fairchild Chapel

Next up was Sam, who played the Violin Sonata in C, BWV 1005. Sam plays with gorgeous tone and a deeply thoughtful interpretation of each movement, presenting Bach’s counterpoint with such clarity and conviction that the Sonata’s famous Fugue was rendered surprisingly transparent, the rapturous Largo was exquisitely cantabile and the final Allegro Assai brilliantly flowing.

Sam Schollenberger plays Bach’s Sonata in C

The final performance was by cellist Maria-Elli Petridou. She presented Cello Suite 4 in Eb, BWV 1010. Less-often programmed than some of the others, this remarkable piece is one of the hardest. Its long lines, rhythmic complexities and surprising turns keep the player challenged, while the melodies presented are some of the composer’s most sublime. Maria-Elli played it beautifully. The audience was rapturous. (Close readers will note that in the program, this Suite’s Prelude is omitted but in fact, it was played!)

Maria-Elli Petridou takes a bow in Fairchild Chapel

The three winners stood together for a snapshot at the concert’s conclusion. This was another fantastic edition of a terrific event. The playing level was extremely high and the seriousness with which all present take this music was abundantly in evidence. I hope this event becomes a permanent part of our musical life at Oberlin. Thanks to Matilda Goldie for her efforts in creating and producing this opportunity!