Sam Brown

A young musician dubbed “the Eric Clapton of the Lute”, Sam Brown is one of the most individual voices to emerge in recent years.

Sam is known for his understated, sensitive style and uniquely contemplative and sincere performances, particularly of Elizabethan music. He is devoted to the English Renaissance with its subtlety, aliveness and refinement, drawing inspiration from the era's great artists and thinkers, and he is a fine exponent of the lute-song genre.

Sam was first mentored at the Regis School of Music by Sasha Levtov - an inspirational teacher who taught him to love music and to whom he is profoundly indebted. A star pupil of the School, Sam played for many years with the West Sussex Guitar Club, who elected him an honorary member in 2012. He briefly enrolled at the Junior Department of the Royal College of Music before going on to full-time study there under Charles Ramirez; he also studied the lute with Jakob Lindberg. After graduating, Sam studied at the Conservatorio della Svizzera Italia with Lorenzo Micheli.

Sam has performed in major venues and festivals over three continents. This includes at prestigious London venues such as Wigmore Hall, the Barbican, the House of Lords, Bolivar Hall, St Martin-in-the-Fields and St James Piccadilly; and at international festivals such as the European Lute Festival in Fussen, Klosters Music Festival, St Andrews Voices, Seville Guitar Festival and Beijing City Codes. He is especially honoured to have given the Kenyan debut of Rodrigo’s Concierto de Aranjuez with Nairobi Orchestra.
As a specialist in Elizabethan music, Sam has also performed and given talks at significant art collections, such as the Royal Academy of Arts, the National Gallery, the Courtauld Gallery, the Royal College of Art, the National Portrait Gallery, and the Queen’s Gallery of Buckingham Palace; for the theatre at the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse, the Theatre Royal Haymarket, and the Shakespeare Institute; and for the Lute Society of Great Britain, Deutsches Lautengesellschaft, and the 1st Samuel Daniel Conference, which he co-organised in 2015.

Sam is a regular collaborator with early music groups Fair Oriana and Dowland Works, and has performed with leading sopranos Emma Kirkby, Rowan Pierce and Marie Lys. He has appeared on several CD releases and on radio and television, and he is currently working on a major film project.
”An inspirational teacher”, Sam is sought after as a private tutor and coach, and regularly works with students at Bath Spa University and University of Bath, where he is presently based.

PRESS

“The Eric Clapton of the Lute”
Jim Clevett Badische Zeitung

"A rising star"
Chris Goodwin Lute News

"Sam interpreted with a strength and sensitivity that captivated the audience"
Angela McTavish Good Vibrations

"The beautiful Guitar Concerto was magical from start to finish. Sam Brown plays the piece wonderfully. A wonderful recording!” 
Chris Dumigan Classical Guitar Magazine

"A sensitive accompanist; his beautiful solos were captivating."
Ingo Negwer Online Musik Magazin 

“Master musician in the making.”
Simon Jenner Brighton Argus

“A sensitive poet of the lute … introverted, unobtrusive, internalised style. A profound knowledge of the Shakespearean sound world characterises this English lutenist, who brought out the facets of his Renaissance lute in the most subtle and beautiful way.”
Roswitha Frey Badische Zeitung

Sam is currently supported by a Transmission Fund bursary from Help Musicians UK

He is also grateful for the support of
EMI Music Sound Foundation
J.R. esq.
Friends of the Regis School of Music
West Sussex Guitar Club
Rotary Club of Chichester Priory
Betty Martin Charity
Basil Shippam and Alsford Trust
Talent Unlimited
Mr James Morgan