Sam Dorsey

Sam Dorsey is a Professor of Music at Norfolk State University (NSU), affiliated with the College of Liberal Arts and the Department of Visual & Performing Arts. He specializes in guitar performance and musicology, with notable performances across the U.S., Europe, and Latin America. As founder of the Tidewater Guitar Orchestra and President of the Tidewater Classical Guitar Society, he has promoted classical music in the region.

• Education:
• B.M., University of North Carolina Greensboro
• M.M., Virginia Commonwealth University
• Ph.D. in Musicology, Catholic University of America (recipient of Paul Furfey Hanley Scholarship)

His teaching focuses on applied guitar, ensemble direction, and music history, covering eras from Renaissance to 19th-century compositions. He has performed with major groups like the Virginia Symphony and Virginia Opera, and his international recitals include venues such as Costa Rica’s Teatro Nacional and Mexico City’s Centro Nacional de las Artes.

Awards:

• Paul Furfey Hanley Scholarship during Ph.D. studies

Advocacy & Leadership: Dorsey has curated performances by international artists in the Tidewater area through his role in the Tidewater Classical Guitar Society. His courses at NSU include Music Literature and specialized historical eras in music, reflecting his deep expertise in musicology and pedagogy.