Sam Motter is an American cornettist, recorder player, improviser, and specialist in the repertoire, societal context, and performing practice of the 16th and 17th centuries from Bloomington, Indiana. As a multi-instrumentalist, Motter holds a bachelor’s degree in jazz saxophone, a M.A. in musicology, and an M.M. in historical performance from the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, studying with historical performance luminaries including Clea Galhano, Kris Kwapis, Bruce Dickey, Frithjof Smith, and Jeremy West. He has been active as a performer and teacher in the Midwest and beyond for over a decade, collaborating with artists including Brent Wallarab, Michael Spiro, and Wayne Wallace, and appearing on the Grammy-nominated album Canto América.

In the historical performance scene, Motter has performed nationwide, from the National Cathedral in Washington D.C. to the North American premier of Hapsburg emperor Leopold I’s Requiem in Los Angeles. Collaborators include Crescendo Music, Musica Transalpina, the Oriana Singers, Ars Perpetuum, ProArte OH, the Bloomington Bach Cantata Project, and various professional choral and instrumental ensembles around the Midwest. Upcoming engagements include performances with the Washington Bach Consort & with Ars Lyrica Houston. He has presented on early wind instruments and improvisation techniques at venues including the Bloomington Early Music Festival and the IU Historical Performance Institute. In his free time, Sam enjoys spending time with his family in the great outdoors.