Samuel Rothstein is the Assistant Principal and Bass Clarinetist with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, where he also served as Acting Principal Clarinet from 2021-2025. Prior to his appointment in Indianapolis, he was a member of the Richmond (VA) Symphony Orchestra and the Civic Orchestra of Chicago.

As an orchestral musician, Rothstein has appeared as guest Principal Clarinet with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra and the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra, and as guest Bass Clarinet with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Dallas Symphony Orchestra, Minnesota Orchestra, Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra and Virginia Symphony Orchestra. Summer festival appearances include the Grant Park Music Festival, Bravo Vail, National Repertory Orchestra, Spoleto Festival USA and three summers at the Tanglewood Music Center. In his final year at Tanglewood, he was a member of the New Fromm Players focusing on the study and performance of contemporary music.

As an educator, Rothstein has been visiting faculty with the New World Symphony in Miami Beach, FL and has presented masterclasses at Northwestern University, UNC-Greensboro, Ball State University, Miami (OH) University, Butler University, Oakland University, Indiana University-Fort Wayne and the Digital Clarinet Academy. He is the creator, producer and host of the Candid Clarinetist podcast, which has amassed over 20,000 lifetime downloads.

He holds a Bachelor of Music from Northwestern University and considers J. Lawrie Bloom, Steve Cohen and Michael Wayne his primary teachers and mentors.