The Estimating Director of North America Region at Techint Engineering and Construction, shares his passion for engineering, as well as music, the recent release of his first album, and his eternal gratitude to the two fundamental pillars of his life: his family and his work.

Music has always been a part of his life. Jorge Samur recalls how his mother's family, she and her nine siblings, enjoyed classical music, especially opera and concerts by Beethoven, Mozart, and his favorite composer, Chopin. His father, on the other hand, was a fan of folklore and tango. “From the age of 9, I studied guitar and graduated as a teacher at 17. Meanwhile, my parents bought a piano for my sister, and it fascinated me. I started playing by ear, interpreting music alongside my uncle Jorge, who was a concert pianist, and from whom I later inherited the grand piano. Later, I learned some quick classical and jazz music reading methods. My three children were also surrounded by music from birth.”

It's never too late for pending dreams

When Jorge had to choose his professional future, the music scale weighed heavily. His great dream was to be an orchestra conductor, but at that moment, he took a different path. “My father told me that a musician's life was very difficult, that he wasn't sure if I could make a living from it, and he was right. So, he guided me to pursue my Engineering career, which turned out to be my second passion, a profession that brought me great satisfaction. I continued to devote myself to music throughout my life, in my free time.”

Recently, albeit on a different scale, Jorge was able to fulfill his pending dream of becoming an orchestra conductor. From a music studio he set up in his current home, and with the help of specific music production software and virtual instrument libraries, he managed to compose and perform integral pieces as if he were a conductor: “I always interpreted or composed pieces using only guitar or piano. Now, with technology, I was able to start adding bandoneon, violins, and other instruments, making more orchestral compositions, arranging, and mixing the instruments as if I were a conductor.”

37 years at Techint E&C: “The best place I could have worked”

Jorge was born in General Roca, Río Negro (Argentina). He lived there until he moved to Buenos Aires to study Civil Engineering at Universidad Católica Argentina (UCA). Shortly after graduating, he joined a family business specializing in metal constructions, but soon submitted his resume to Techint, as there was a project to build two offshore platforms for Total Austral at the time. He joined as a young professional, as an assistant to the site manager and in charge of civil works; within a few months, he was appointed as the assembly coordinator for one of the platforms.

From there, his career continued to grow within the company, participating in major projects in countries like Paraguay, Uruguay, and Argentina. The telecommunications works for Techint Urban Services (TESUR), the Aluar Plant, a Thermal Power Plant, and the Ancap Refinery in Uruguay are just a few highlights.

After 20 years in industrial projects, he spent 12 years in the construction of the Los Caracoles and Punta Negra hydroelectric plants (both in San Juan province), “the most challenging projects for a Civil Engineer, very difficult but equally rewarding for the immense professional learning and the legacy these iconic works leave in the community.”

For more than four years, he has been working at the Mexico Headquarters, and for the past two years, he has served as Estimating Director - North America Region at Techint E&C.

Today, when reflecting on his professional journey, Jorge highlights the unconditional support of his family, who endured 11 moves and set aside personal projects, especially his wife Laura, his unwavering partner and family pillar. He emphasizes: “Techint E&C is the best place I could have developed my career, as it allowed me to participate in major projects, which was what I wanted professionally, in a company with passion, principles, and values that I share. For this, I will always be grateful to the company and my family, who made it possible by always supporting me, with everything that entailed.”

Shared Passions

Jorge speaks about his life with pride and satisfaction. He managed to develop in two areas that he is passionate about and fully gratified, and although music was not his main career, it always found its way in. “When you have passion for what you do, anything is possible. At Techint E&C, I enjoy the day-to-day with the same energy as when I started. I share this passion for continuing to participate in projects, now from another position with great professionals and friends of many years. Music is my way of expressing my gratitude for everything life has given me, and both in creation and interpretation, I pour those feelings.”

Additionally, he shares this passion for music with some friends from the company, such as Marcelo Gondra, International Recruitment Director. Many know him from the guitar sessions at the worksites because, in his words, “music promotes integration.” As a particular anecdote, he recalls accompanying Carlos Bacher -then CEO of the company- on the piano, singing "My Way," during a convention in São Paulo many years ago.

Bronca y Calma, his first album

Three months ago, Jorge released his first album under the pseudonym "George Seymour" (listen by clicking here ), which was mostly created during the COVID-19 pandemic when he had to stay alone for 10 months, unable to see his family due to health restrictions and suspension of international flights. Without a doubt, he poured into the interpretations what he felt during those days, a roller coaster of emotions that, among other things, marked his 60th birthday in isolation.

The main track that gives the album its name, “Bronca y Calma”, was composed on the piano one day when he was feeling anger and worry, and shortly after, calm arrived, Jorge recounts. Hence the album's name, for these two very different but closely related emotions. “In the album, I included two original tracks and covers of artists I admire from tango, jazz, and folklore. The album is in CD format, but I recently published it on various streaming platforms: YouTube, Spotify, and others,” he clarifies.

Jorge's three children, Agustín, Mariam, and Andrés, undoubtedly inherited this passion. They all studied music and even formed a band together. “Sharing the passion and being able to make music with my children is one of the great gifts life has given me,” explains Jorge and adds: “Of course, I continue working to release another album, in which I hope to include tracks with my children.”

Agustín pursued music professionally; he is a composer, singer, and producer and lives in Edinburgh (Scotland), publishing his music under the stage name “One Man Dancing.” Mariam is a designer, professional photographer, and also a musician (drummer of the band Olympia), and lives in Argentina. Andrés lives in Barcelona (Spain), is a lawyer, and a composer and musician in his spare time, under the pseudonym “Deep Sleepers.”

Links to the family music:

George Seymour - Jorge Samur https://open.spotify.com/album/3sH2ilJQ3LzQmEavkUAFE8?si=bvQocc6OSQC1a35RDlPFKg

One Man Dancing - Agustín Samur https://open.spotify.com/artist/28zCv0dldrs9fER83br9bD?si=l78a9ha_Qqq9mBFFMhFkzA

Olympia - Mariam Samur https://open.spotify.com/artist/19lyFJdKYUsSPkgZte44Tc?si=dBR3QapQTK6sBCNzlPne4g

Deepsleepers - Andrés Samur https://open.spotify.com/artist/4Ql3MFWL6HLsbUHefc6DiJ?si=K0LfWipBRFuh-Sf7I81qZA

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