Dear community,
A huge thank you to everyone who took part in the Performed with Samplemodeling demo competition. The response was overwhelming, both in terms of the number of submissions and, above all, their quality.
We received a wide range of inspiring demos, making the selection process genuinely difficult. What these demos clearly highlight is the powerful combination of two elements: the musical know-how and imagination of our community, and the sound quality and flexibility of our virtual instruments. Hearing how differently the same tools can be used was inspiring, and it perfectly shows what’s possible when great instruments meet skilled hands.
So, thank you.
We realized that the variety of approaches and the consistently high level of several submissions made a linear ranking impractical. As a result, we decided to expand the number of winners, awarding the same top prize to multiple demos!
PRIMARY SELECTION
The following FIVE DEMOS were selected, in no particular order, for their exceptional musical quality, artistic coherence, and expressive use of Samplemodeling instruments. Each of the following contributors will receive the Samplemodeling Complete Bundle (full license – giftable)
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Winner: Markus Little
Piece: O Come O Come Emmanuel / God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
A genre-spanning piece that showcases Markus’s outstanding arranging skills, with a constantly evolving sound that keeps the listener fully engaged throughout.
Winner: Dominic Mekky
Piece: The Forager’s House
A beautifully crafted original piece by Dominic for string quartet and percussion, fully showcasing the versatility of Samplemodeling solo strings.
Winner: Jake Cadmus
Piece: Gravity Rush 2 - Virtual Orchestra Cover
Jake’s demo stands out for its faithful recreation of the original famous soundtrack, while tackling a high level of technical and musical complexity and making extensive use of the Samplemodeling suite.
Winner: Tyler Pedraja
Piece: Bach Cello Suite using Samplemodeling Solo Strings
Tyler took on a formidable challenge by tackling one of the most demanding and iconic solo cello pieces ever written. A strong performance, with excellent control over dynamics, overtones, pitch, and a high level of musicality.
Winner: Vinnie Cocuzzi
Piece: Adagio in Sol minore - Tomaso Albinoni - Remo Giazotto - Flicorno soprano
Here, Vinnie Cocuzzi delivers a strong performance of Albinoni’s well-known piece using an Akai EWI 4000s, performed with Samplemodeling Flugelhorn. The result stands out for its expressiveness and musicality.
LIVE PERFORMANCE AWARD
This special award is presented to Jose Danilo Moreno Ramirez, demonstrating a particularly compelling and professional real-world use of Samplemodeling instruments in a live performance context.
The demo stands out for its musical credibility, practical application, and clarity in showcasing how Samplemodeling instruments can be integrated into a professional live workflow.
Prize: Samplemodeling Complete Bundle (full license – giftable)
SECONDARY SELECTION
In addition, we selected FIVE MORE DEMOS that reached a high standard and stood out for their musical ideas, execution, and creative use of the instruments.
Each of the following contributors will receive one free product of their choice between:
Brass Bundle, or
Solo, Chamber & Ensemble Strings
(full license – both giftable)
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Winner: Luca Francini
Piece: An Old West Story
An original composition by Luca making extensive use of Samplemodeling brass, presented in a video that showcases the result both with full orchestra and brass-only sections.
Winner: Aa[...]almond
Piece: Samplemodeling Contest
A well-crafted original piece built around Samplemodeling brass, where staccatos and legatos intertwine to create a balanced musical picture.
Winner: Shinya Ishida
Piece: Nocturne from "Midsummer Night's Dream" for Brass Ensemble
A beautifully arranged work by F. Mendelssohn by S. Ishida, featuring a warm and smooth sound palette and a high level of musicality. Thank you for sharing this piece.
Winner: Daiyaki
Piece: A Short Piece for Brass Octet
An original piece for brass octet created with Samplemodeling brass. A bright, lively, and enjoyable work that immediately puts the listener in a good mood. Congratulations, Daiyaki.
Winner: Ernesto Fiks
Piece: Spinoza
A nu-jazz, indie, world-inspired piece by Ernesto Fiks, featuring bold, expressive solos and strong, characterful phrasing throughout.
We see this competition not only as a showcase, but as a snapshot of what this community can create with our instruments. Thank you to everyone who participated, listened, shared, and supported the event.
We look forward to hearing even more music from you in the future.
The Samplemodeling Team
some of these demos sound incredible. great work everyone!
👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Thank you for the appreciation, and above all thank you for creating these fantastic virtual instruments!
Thank you to the Samplemodeling team for the opportunity and for the thoughtful feedback.
I’m honored to be included alongside so much strong work.
Congrats to you all! 🔥🔥