
Dr. Samuel Dahmer is one of the most sought-after orchestral bassists in Southern Mississippi. He is currently the Adjunct Professor of String Bass at William Carey University and a Strings Teacher at the Hattiesburg Public School District Strings Program.
With a wide experience as an orchestral musician and music educator, Dr. Dahmer has performed with many orchestras in the United States and abroad, and taught a varied set of string students. He has taught at The University of Southern Mississippi and is an active Bass Coach for summer strings camps in the area, such as the Festival South Orchestral and Chamber Academy and My First Strings Camp at the William Carey University.
Dahmer holds a Bachelor of Music degree from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, in Brazil, a Master of Music from The University of Southern Mississippi, and, at the same institution, he recently completed his Doctor of Musical Arts in String Bass Performance and Pedagogy. His doctoral dissertation is based on the 24 Caprices for Double Bass by the Italian virtuoso bassist Isaia Billè, a work Dr. Dahmer plans to publish soon.
Samuel Dahmer’s orchestral career started in Brazil as the Principal Double Bass of the PUCRS Philharmonic Orchestra and section bass of the University of Caxias do Sul Symphony Orchestra, orchestras that he performed over many years. At the PUCRS Philharmonic, Dahmer had the opportunity to perform with important Brazilian artists such as Milton Nascimento, Caetano Veloso, Zizi Possi, MPB4, and the famous British rock group Jethro Tull. In 2004, after finishing his Bachelor’s studies, Dahmer performed for three years in a major full-time orchestra in Brazil, the Porto Alegre Symphony Orchestra (OSPA). At OSPA, Dahmer developed a vast acquaintance with orchestral repertoire, performing all the most important orchestral works under the baton of many acclaimed conductors such as Isaac Karabchevistky, Kiyotaka Teraoka, Roberto Duarte, etc. He also performed as a guest musician with many other orchestras in Brazil such as the Lutheran University Chamber Orchestra, the São Pedro Chamber Orchestra, and also taught at the Ivoti Institute of Education.
Throughout his orchestra career in United States, Dr. Dahmer had the opportunity to perform with many acclaimed musicians such as Francois Rabbath, Itzhak Perlman, Mark O’Connor, Renee Fleming, Nadia Salerno-Sonnenberg, Antonio Menezes, Sandi Patty, Beach Boys, etc. He is currently the Principal Bass at the Meridian Symphony Orchestra and section bass at the Mobile Symphony Orchestra, Gulf Coast Symphony Orchestra, and Pensacola Symphony Orchestra. Additionally, he has performed for many seasons with the Tuscaloosa Symphony Orchestra and as substitute bass for the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra.