“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, and has performed across three continents as a recitalist, orchestral soloist, continuo and ensemble player, including at Vienna’s Konzerthaus and Wigmore Hall.
Sam is a sought after collaborator in the field of early music and across disciplines. He has performed with noted singers Emma Kirkby DBE, Marie Lys, Nina van Essen, Daniel Thomson, Laurence Williams and Joel Williams; with actors Mark Rylance and Will Keen; he has premiered new works by Barry Mills and Fraser Wilson, and created performances with poets Alice Oswald and Cheryl Moskowitz, with playwright Peter Oswald, and with contemporary dancer Julia Cambra. He has performed with groups such as Fair Oriana, Academy of Ancient Music and Alia Mens, and is a founding member of lute-song ensemble Dowlands Foundry.
His main teachers have been Lorenzo Micheli (Conservatorio della Svizzera Italia), and Jakob Lindberg and Charles Ramirez (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.