Sam’s journey to Threshold could be described as an odyssey, in the very literal sense that he was in the South Pacific working on a cruise ship in 2020 and had to figure out how to get home when the pandemic hit. 

To rewind a bit: Sam got into music in high school. He was also into architecture, then engineering, but music won out as he went to the University of Washington and graduated with a Bachelor of Music in Music Education. From there he joined the Norwegian Cruise Line after graduation and became a showband musician. It gave him the freedom to be a professional musician, play at night and explore during the day. 

Not the only one of our consultants to have led the Cruise life before coming to Threshold, Sam enjoyed the chance to wake up somewhere new in the world each day, to work with people from different cultures, and to play professionally. But those perks can wear off while at sea for even the most eager traveler, and they’re really put to the test when a global pandemic hits. 

By the time those aboard the cruise ship realized the magnitude of the pandemic, they were in the South Pacific near countries with some of the strictest border closures. After 30 days at sea, begging and hoping a nearby nation would allow them to dock and return home, the ship acquiesced to its fate and began the slow, arduous journey back toward the States. Oh, and meanwhile one of the propellers fell off into the sea, no biggie. 

In a bit of good luck, Sam’s ship docked at Los Angeles where his family already lived. From there he napped on grassy terra firma, enjoyed donuts, and reconsidered his immediate future. Thinking back on his interests in life, between music and engineering, he found graduate programs for acoustics and was accepted to the Peabody Institute of the Johns Hopkins University, receiving a Master of Arts in Acoustics. 

When he’s not in the office, he’s enjoying the outdoors through rock climbing, skiing, and hiking, and when he’s not outdoors, he’s enjoying the end result of his newest hobby: cooking. He’s looking forward to getting back into performing and releasing his own music.