Arts Student of the Week: Sam Lindquist

Jazz saxophonist Sam Lindquist comes from a musical family. His father plays drums, and his mother plays piano and clarinet. Occasionally he plays duets with his mother. Lindquist's grandmother on his father's side, Jan Lindquist, was an exceptional organ player who served as the principal organist at Mount Olivet Lutheran Church in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Lindquist took piano lessons from age four to ten, but his main interests are saxophone and guitar. He took up saxophone in elementary school and continued at Centennial Middle School in Boulder.

"I had a cool teacher at my elementary school who played saxophone, and that got me into it," Lindquist said. "At the end of my fourth grade, I picked an instrument in band, and then the teacher recommended an amazing teacher for private lessons named Chris Ruiz. I have been taking lessons with him, and it just took off."

Wade Hendricks, the Director of Bands at NHS, selected Lindquist as Arts Student of the Week. "Sam is a freshman at Niwot HS this year and is already making an impact in the performing arts," Hendricks said. "Sam is a leader in the Jazz Band playing solos and exhibiting his serious saxophone skills!"

As a student at NHS, Lindquist has found the music program inspiring. "It's been good. I have really enjoyed it. Mr. Hendricks is a great teacher. I have played some cool music. The teachers are just phenomenal. Great classes, enthusiastic teachers, good content. It's really been good."

His most memorable performance at NHS so far was playing a solo on the piece "Crunchy Frog" by Gordon Goodwin for the Sounds of Autumn Concert program.

Recently, Lindquist developed an interest in bluegrass guitar. "I started taking guitar class this year, and really like to listen to bluegrass. And that's more for fun, because jazz is learning more about the depth of the music and learning musicianship. And bluegrass is just for fun, because it sounds cool."

One of Lindquist's favorite musicians is bluegrass guitar player Tony Rice. "I really like his music," Lindquist said. "He's a very good guitar player. Excellent." Others who have influenced him include his favorite composer, songwriter, and alto saxophone player Grace Kelly. "She's energetic, kind of cool, modern, and an interesting player." Other musicians and songwriters that have influenced Lindquist's playing include his teacher, Mr. Ruiz. "He's been having me listen to Sonny Rollins, the tenor saxophone player, and I guess that's really affected my tone and how I like to play," Lindquist said.

Outside of high school, Lindquist plays classical music in the University of Colorado Honor Band, and plans to audition for the Colorado All State Jazz Band. He was recently selected to participate in the Colorado Combined League Jazz Band, which will convene at Frederick High School next month.

For the Combined League audition, high school students from Northern Colorado were required to play several etudes and a little improvisation. "And then they select participants," Lindquist said. "And then those accepted go for a day and work with a guest composer, play some cool music and then perform that night."

"Music is truly creative. That's what I like about it," Lindquist said. "You can express yourself through it. And it's almost the core of who you are, because there's no fluff or words. You can express emotions just purely. It's a big part of my life."

Hendricks agrees. "The musical future is bright for this Cougar," Hendricks said.

Other hobbies and interests include rock climbing. "I'm on a rock-climbing team and really like to ski and mountain bike," Lindquist said. He also played hockey, but ended up with a concussion. "I was going down on a breakaway, and the defense didn't like that, so they shut it down, and I was on the ice."

Lindquist is considering other options for the future. "I'm also interested in environmental science, so I want to get into research and work on climate change," he said.