Patch Whiz Kid of the Week: Samuel Rosner

Know a kid so smart, self-aware or sweet that he or she can only be described as a “Whiz Kid?” Each week, our site will highlight the accomplishments of local children and teens. From youth group leaders to sports team captains to scholarship winners, all will be considered for “Whiz Kid” status on Scarsdale Patch. Submit nominations in the comment box below, or e-mail the information to kirstin.fawcett@patch.com.

Samuel Rosner, 12, Scarsdale

7th Grader at Scarsdale Middle School

Whiz Kid's Accomplishment:

Samuel Rosner is a 12-year-old songbird whose musical chops have allowed him to flutter onto the stages of illustrious venues such as Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center and Madison Square Garden

Key to Awesomeness:

Samuel has been singing all his life. It wasn’t until he was 7, however, that Dace Aperans, a Heathcote Elementary School music teacher, suggested that he try out for the Metropolitan Opera Children’s Chorus.

Samuel did not audition right away, but instead honed his vocal abilities through participating in local theater at the Jewish Community Center of Mid-Westchester before finally trying out for the Metropolitan Opera Children’s Chorus when he was 8. After he was accepted, Samuel made his solo debut – singing in Russian, no less – in Prokofiev’s “War and Peace” at age 9.

Currently, Samuel is a member of HaZamir Choir, which performed at Carnegie Hall last fall and is slated to appear at Lincoln Center this March. Samuel has also sung as a soloist at Citi Field, and was once a featured singer at the Maccabi Games at Madison Square Garden.

Despite having sung at Carnegie hall and Madison Square Garden, one of Samuel’s most meaningful performances was at the Sarah Neuman Nursing Home in Mamaroneck.  As his Mitzvah project (part of his Bar Mitzvah), Samuel and several others in HaZamir arranged a concert for the home’s senior residents.  Samuel wrote song introductions, helped the conductor plan repertoire and spent time conversing with the home’s residents after the show.

This summer, Samuel will sing opera as an adult for the first time in a production of “Carmen” at the Crested Butte Music Festival in Colorado.  Judging from his successes to date, one can only expect multiple encores for Samuel’s future –both onstage and off – that will receive applause from concertgoers and humanitarians alike.