Samuel Acus

Sam Acus has been playing music for his entire life. He first picked up the mandolin at age 5, fiddle at 6, and a whole host of instruments since then, including guitar, bass, viola, keyboards, etc. He enjoys music from all genres, most notably bluegrass, jazz, and classical.

Sam is fortunate to count Will Patton and Jacob Jolliff as his core mandolin teachers, and also to have studied with Tom Cleary (jazz), Jamie Masefield (mandolin), David Gusakov (violin), and Caleb Pillsbury (voice). Currently, he is engaged in serious study of classical vocal technique.  

Sam calls Vermont his home, but travels frequently for music. When it comes to performing, bluegrass was Sam’s first love, and his performance experience in that genre is extensive. He has shared the stage with Rhonda Vincent, the Po’ Ramblin’ Boys, the Gibson Brothers, and The Jacob Jolliff Band. Sam is the mandolin player for New England bluegrass band Breakin’ Strings. 

Sam also plays a lot of jazz. His favorite artists for mainstream jazz include Charlie Christian, Benny Goodman, Miles Davis, Django Reinhardt, and Stephan Grapelli. He also loves crossover, including Invisíble, Chris Thile, and Bela Fleck. 

When he isn't in class as a junior at Mount Mansfield Union High School in Vermont, Sam enjoys performing at venues such as Club Passim (MA), Zenbarn (VT), One Longfellow Square (ME), Cumston Hall (ME), Higher Ground (VT), and the main stages of Thomas Point Bluegrass Festival (ME), Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival (NY), Ossipee Valley Music Festival (ME), and the Beaver Island Music Festival (MI).