Sam Tobias is a composer, multi-instrumentalist and music educator living in New Jersey. Sam began playing the flute at the age of 9 and quickly became fascinated with music and harmony, starting to compose not long afterwards. Hearing the music of John Coltrane and Thelonious Monk hooked him on jazz. At age 13, Sam began playing the baritone saxophone in addition to the flute. He went on to get a bachelor’s degree in music at Rutgers University, where he studied with saxophone greats Mark Gross and Gary Smulyan. Sam is now an in-demand performer and educator. He’s known for his inspiring teaching style and for always demanding -- and getting! -- creativity from his students.