“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
photo by Jamie Rivenberg, 2017
Praised for his “sensitive, introverted style”, Sam Brown enjoys an international career and a fine reputation, especially as an interpreter of Elizabethan music and lute song.
Sam was first mentored at the Regis School of Music by Sasha Levtov - an inspirational teacher and music lover who influenced him profoundly. A star pupil of the School, he performed 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; here he also encountered the lute, and was taught by Jakob Lindberg. After graduating in 2015, Sam studied at the Conservatorio della Svizzera Italia with Lorenzo Micheli.
Sam has performed in major venues and festivals across Europe and in China and Kenya, including the Barbican and the House of Lords, Seville Guitar Festival, the European Lute Festival and Klosters Music Festival. He has appeared on radio and television and on various CD releases.
In 2015 Sam gave the Kenyan debut of Rodrigo's Concierto de Aranjuez in 2015, and in 2019 he was privileged to join Emma Kirkby on the stage of the Wigmore Hall as part of her 70th Birthday Recital. Sam performs as a soloist, with early music groups Fair Oriana and Dowland Works, and with virginalist Nathaniel Mander.
Alongside his work as a recitalist, Sam has collaborated on many theatre and dance projects, performing at the Globe and the Shakespeare Institute, and spoken on the lute in art at the National Gallery. He has given several lectures on the lute music of John Danyel, and in 2015 helped organise the first ever conference on Samuel Daniel. Sam has also coached students at Bath Spa University, and teaches at the University of Bath, where he is presently based.
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
instruments
renaissance lute: 7 course spruce and yew, Michael Lowe, 1980
baroque lute: 13 course spruce and rosewood, Matthias Wagner, 2011
classical guitar: spruce and ziricote, Daniele Chiesa, 2014