About Sammy

Samuel “Sammy” Leighton Maddox first became interested in piano at age four when his older brother began taking lessons with Mrs. Marilyn Robinson. He started taking lessons after turning seven, and it was Mrs. Robinson who first recognized Sammy’s potential—labeling him a “prodigy.” Soon, she was assigning Sammy repertoire normally reserved for her much older students, which Sammy deftly handled. Once Mrs. Robinson retired in 2013, Sammy transferred to the Studio of Dr. Esequiel Meza, Jr. at the age of ten. Recognizing Sammy’s advanced skills, extremely competitive spirit, and ability to quickly memorize difficult repertoire, he immediately began challenging Sammy to reach new levels. After just a few months, Dr. Meza commissioned Sammy—still ten—to give his official piano solo debut concert in December 2013, which featured repertoire from Mozart, Brahms, Bach, Bartók, Clementi, and Debussy. Sammy remained a student of Dr. Meza until May 2020, when he transitioned to the Colburn Music Academy in Los Angeles to continue his studies under the tutelage of renowned Italian pianist, Fabio Bidini.

Music History

Fueled by his competitive fires, Sammy has proved to be a strong and able challenger in many piano competitions. His successes include:

  • 1st Place - Gail Newby Antelope Valley Piano Concerto Competition - Lancaster, California (2023)

  • 1st Place - International Gloria Artis Music Performance - Vienna, Austria (2022)

  • 1st Place (Senior Division) - Frost Young Artists International Piano Competition - virtual from El Paso, TX (2021)

  • 2nd Place - El Paso Symphony Youth Orchestras Concerto Competition - El Paso, TX (2020)

  • 2nd Place - Jackie McGehee Young Artists Concerto Competition - Albuquerque, NM (2020)

  • 1st Place - El Paso Society for Musicians of the Future Competition - El Paso, TX (2019)

  • 2nd Place (Senior Division) - Baylor/Waco Piano Competitions - Waco, TX (2019)

  • 3rd Place (for his age division) - International Chopin Piano Competition - Vienna, Austria (2019)

  • 1st Place (Junior Division) - Baylor/Waco Piano Competitions - Waco, TX (2018)

  • Finalist (Piano Solo Grade 9 Division) - Texas Music Teachers Association Competition - Waco, TX (2018)

  • Finalist - Claudette Sorel International Piano Competition - Fredonia, NY (2018)

  • 1st Place - El Paso Society for Musicians of the Future Competition - El Paso, TX (2017)

  • 2nd Place (as a 10-year-old in the 12-year-old division) - El Paso Music Teachers Association’s Irma Kluck Baroque Competition - El Paso, TX (2013)

Doing more

Sammy has a deep desire to use his piano skills to both glorify God and bless people by bringing encouragement, enjoyment, pleasure, and beauty into their lives. Toward those ends, Sammy performs his music as a community service on a regular basis, donating time each year to play at area public schools, assisted living centers, libraries and children’s hospitals. He also participates in the EPSMF Outreach and Ambassador Leadership Program and records YouTube videos to share with the senior adult members of the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) on a regular basis as a public service during the ongoing global coronavirus pandemic. He will travel this year of 2022 - 2023 to various countries with a focus on helping the needy and bringing his piano music.