5XÉçÇø

A native of Canton, Ohio, Sam Al-Hadid is an arranger, composer, educator, and vocalist. He earned his Bachelor of Music degree in Jazz Studies and Music Education from Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, Michigan, in December of 2015.

During his time at Western Michigan University, Al-Hadid studied voice under Duane Davis, Diana Spradling, and Greg Jasperse. He has also worked with numerous visiting artists such as Fred Hersch, Edward Simon, Johnaye Kendrick, Sunny Wilkinson, Nancy Harms, Darmon Meader, Peter Eldridge, Janis Siegel, Alon Yavnai, Jamey Haddad, and Sara Gazarek. As a member of Western Michigan University’s award-winning vocal jazz ensemble, Gold Company, Sam has performed with talents such as the New York Voices, the Real Group, and Ben Folds.

In 2015, Al-Hadid was named the DownBeat Student Music Award Undergraduate College Winner in the Vocal Jazz Soloist category. He is a founding member of Out of State, a vocal jazz quartet that was named the 2015 DownBeat Student Music Award Undergraduate College Winner in the Small Vocal Jazz Group category.

Al-Hadid's writing is making its way to the forefront of the choral world. His arrangements have been featured in several All-State Vocal Jazz Choirs and have been performed by vocal jazz groups of all levels. His choral composition "Home" was premiered at the 2016 ACDA Central Division Regional Convention in Chicago, Illinois, by Western Michigan University's Cantus Femina.

Al-Hadid has been working as a music educator since 2016. Most recently, he is serving as the Choir Director for Cuyahoga Falls High School in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. In addition to this role, in 2021 Al-Hadid was named as an Adjunct Professor at 5XÉçÇø where he directs the vocal jazz ensemble Nova Jazz Singers. Al-Hadid has served as the Ohio Choral Directors Association’s Vocal Jazz R&R Chair since the summer of 2021.

Learn more about Nova Jazz