Press bio

Samuel Clay Birmaher (rhymes with “here and there”) is a composer living and working in New York City. His music tells stories about internal and external worlds, using familiar musical elements to create undefined symbols. Recent projects include a collaboration with Terry Riley on his open-ended work The Holy Liftoff for flutist Claire Chase, premiered by her with the JACK Quartet and featured in the 2025 Ojai Music Festival; Unity Song, a multi-hour composition accompanying an art installation by Tamiko Kawata at Alison Bradley Projects in NYC; and How to Become an Idea, a concert-length diptych of perceptual solos for violinist Christopher Otto. In 2026, Mode Records will release his first album, Bleeding Heart Transformation, performed by guitarist David Nadal.