“The Eric Clapton of the lute”, Sami (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, Sami is a fluent lutenist, archlutenist, and historical guitarist, and has performed across four continents as a recitalist, orchestral soloist, continuo and ensemble player, including at Vienna’s Konzerthaus and Wigmore Hall. He additionally plays Arabic oud and medieval gittern.
Sami is a sought after collaborator in the field of early music and across disciplines. He has performed with noted singers Emma Kirkby, 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 is a founding member of acclaimed lute-song ensemble Dowlands Foundry, who were privileged to perform at a memorial for John Dowland in his church on the 400th anniversary of his death this year.
Sami’s 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, Sami 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.