“The Eric Clapton of the lute”, Sam Brown is a UK-based chordophonist, known for his sensitive style and engaging, thoughtful performances. 

photo: Joe Oswald

Especially known for his work as an interpreter of lute-song, Sam is a fluent lutenist, theorbist and historical guitarist. He is a founding member of the UK-based lute ensemble Dowlands Foundry and a core member of the Dowland Works collective. 

For the last nine years he has performed internationally as a recitalist, soloist, continuo and ensemble player, including at Vienna’s Konzerthaus and Wigmore Hall.

Sam has collaborated with Fair Oriana, Emma Kirkby DBE, Marie Lys, Nina van Essen and Hannah Ely, composers Barry Mills and Fraser Wilson, poets Alice Oswald and Cheryl Moskowitz, contemporary dancer Julia Cambra, actors Mark Rylance and Will Keen, Academy of Ancient Music and Alia Mens.

His main teachers have been Lorenzo Micheli at the Conservatorio della Svizzera Italia, and Jakob Lindberg and Charles Ramirez at the Royal College of Music. His first studies were with the inspirational Sasha Levtov at the Regis School of Music.

A devoted and sought-after teacher, Sam directed youth early music scheme Dowland Youth Works for five years, and is a deputy guitar teacher at Guildhall School of Music and Drama’s Junior Department.