About me
Sam is an in demand orchestral musician, soloist and recording artist and woodwind teacher/coach. He joined the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra as Principal Contrabassoonist in September 2022 following three years as Principal Bassoon with Swedish chamber orchestra, Dalasinfoniettan.
Sam has been a guest player with major orchestras throughout the UK, New Zealand and Scandinavia, and has completed trials with City of Birmingham Symphony orchestra (Principal No.2), Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra (Principal) and Royal Northern Sinfonia (2nd bassoon) as well as regularly performing with Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra, Manchester Camerata and recently the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra.
Highlights of Sam’s training at the Royal Northern College of Music (Manchester UK) and Hochschule für Musik, Mannheim (Germany) include joining the Mahler Chamber Orchestra Academy on a two week tour of Germany; performing with Britten Pears Orchestra under Marin Alsop as principal bassoon for concerts of Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring at the Festival Hall London; and performing on the Faroe Islands with Faroese rock metal band, Týr.
Off the stage, Sam spear-headed ‘Mixtape’ – an immersive music experience with his orchestra in Sweden, taking curated chamber music programmes into museums, galleries and libraries as ‘live playlists’ which mutually enhanced the exhibitions and aurally drew audiences through the spaces.
Competition success includes the Royal Overseas League - wind section finalist in 2017 and winning the RNCM concerto competition in 2014. Also a seasoned recording artist, Sam features on numerous records with Chandos, Naxos and Deustche Gramaphon - performing the Villa Lobos Concerto Grosso as bassoon soloist and Mozart’s piano concertos with Manchester Camerata and Jean-Efflam Bavouzet amongst others.
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Sam currently teaches bassoon at the University of Auckland, St Cuthbert's School and King's College Auckland as well as privately. He was tutor of bassoon and oboe at Leeds Junior Conservatoire 2016-2017 and has played active roles in numerous orchestra education projects with orchestras in Sweden and the UK, including chamber ensemble coaching, composition workshops, creative multi-disciplinary workshops, early years music appreciation sessions and orchestra side-by-side schemes. Sam’s teaching experience spans beginners to advanced students of all ages and with varying aims for their musical journey.
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Sam is excited to begin a new adventure making music in Auckland, getting to know the bassoonists and musicians of the city and exploring the beautiful land of Aotearoa.