Highlighting
Asian Composers
& Their Voices

Born in New York and raised in Taiwan, clarinetist and arts entrepreneur Samuel Hsieh brings a dynamic, cross-cultural perspective to every aspect of his work. A passionate advocate for representation and community-building in classical music, Samuel is the Co-Founder and CEO of East Zodiac—a 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, that is dedicated to building a community that supports an entire ecosystem of music-making with Asian music at its center. Since its founding in 2022, East Zodiac has premiered numerous new compositions, led national consortiums, and presented at institutions across the country, including Yale University, the University of Michigan, Indiana University, Furman University, and the University of Alaska Anchorage. In recognition of this work, Samuel was awarded the University of Michigan SMTD Breaking Ground Award for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in 2025.

Alongside his leadership at East Zodiac, Samuel serves as the Community and Audience Programs Manager at the University Musical Society (UMS) at the University of Michigan. He previously served as the Operations Coordinator for Learning at the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, supporting the Learning & Engagement department in producing public events and educational programming. Dedicated to music education, Samuel also maintains a robust private clarinet studio in Southeast Michigan, offering high-level instruction across multiple school districts.

As a performer, Samuel has appeared across North America, Asia, and Europe, with highlights including performances at Carnegie Hall, ClarinetFest, and the Sewanee Summer Music Festival. He has appeared as a soloist with the Furman Symphony Orchestra, the University of Michigan Symphony Band, and the University Philharmonia Orchestra, and has performed as a substitute musician with the Baton Rouge Symphony and in the greater Michigan area. Championing collaborative and cross-cultural repertoire, he frequently highlights underrepresented composers and commissions new music.

Samuel holds a Specialist in Music degree and a Master of Music in Chamber Music from the University of Michigan, following studies at Louisiana State University and Furman University, where he was named the 2020 Presser Scholar recipient. His principal teachers include Dan Gilbert, Chad Burrow, Stacy Christofakis, and Cecilia Kang. Outside of his musical pursuits, Samuel enjoys cooking, playing pickleball, traveling, and exploring diverse cultures through cuisine.

Ayunia Indri Saputro is an Indonesian pianist and educator. She has performed at Hill Auditorium and the Chan Centre for the Performing Arts, and is a prizewinner of the Ananda Sukarlan Award International Piano Competition, the Silverman Piano Concerto Competition, and the Indonesia International Piano Competition. Ayunia serves as Class Piano Instructor and Piano Pedagogy Laboratory Program faculty at the University of Michigan, where she is a Doctor of Musical Arts candidate, studying with Christopher Harding and John Ellis. She is active as a performer, presenter, and adjudicator, and serves with MTNA and WPTA Indonesia, having chaired the 2025 MTNA National Symposium.