Born in Colombia, violinist Samuel Jiménez-Collazos earned his Bachelor’s degree from the Conservatorio del Tolima under José de los Santos Pérez, and two Master’s degrees in Performance and Soloist Studies from the Musik Akademie Basel, where he studied with Barbara Doll and Raphaël Oleg, graduating with distinction.

Recognized as one of Colombia’s leading violinists of his generation, he is celebrated for his nuanced sensitivity and effortless expression. His artistry has earned him prestigious awards, including First Prize at the Frank Preuss International Violin Competition and the Premio de Interpretación para Jóvenes Solistas in Bogotá.

As a soloist, Samuel has appeared in Colombia, Chile, Germany, and Switzerland, performing with renowned orchestras such as the Sinfonieorchester Basel, Bogotá Philharmonic Orchestra, Cali Philharmonic Orchestra, and Camerata Franconia. Fascinated by orchestral music from a young age, he began his orchestral career at fifteen. With nearly eight years of experience as a concertmaster, he has led significant youth orchestras in Colombia. Notably, the Filarmónica Joven de Colombia and the Filarmónica Juvenil de Bogotá, under the mentorship of the legendary Colombian violinist Carlos Villa.

In Switzerland, during the 2019–2020 season, Samuel held a coveted academist position with the Sinfonieorchester Basel, followed by two seasons (2020–2022) with the Opernhaus Zürich, where he worked under Bartek Niziol. He has also appeared as a guest concertmaster in Chile and at the Tenerife Opera in Spain. In 2026, he joins the prestigious Orchestre de la Suisse Romande in Geneva in the second violin section.

A passionate chamber musician, Samuel was a member of the Sociedad de Música de Cámara de Bogotá and since 2020, is a member of the Opalio Piano Quintet. 

He performs on a 1972 Sergio Peresson violin—formerly owned by maestro Carlos Villa—and a C.H.K. Schmidt bow, generously on loan from the Pirolo Foundation.