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Sam is an orchestra conductor who is excited by sharing the weird and wonderful corners of the orchestral repertoire with as many people who care to listen. He is driven by collaboration and draws inspiration from the many wonderful musicians and artists he crosses paths with. Born in Sydney, Australia - he now calls Amsterdam his home, with his partner Kate (a composer), deeply engaged with both the Australian and Dutch orchestral scene.
In 2016, Sam founded Ensemble Apex, described as “one of the most exciting new ensembles on the Sydney scene” (Limelight). With sold-out seasons and acclaimed performances of Bartók's Miraculous and Verdi's Requiem, Apex is repositioning orchestral experiences for all audiences. In 2024, they launched the Apex Festival which incuded their hit concert ‘Wake up and Die...’, supported by the Australian Government. Most recently they performed Ligeti’s Kammerkonzert in Sydney.
“Ensemble Apex are next level… If this is the future of music in Australia, we are in excellent hands!”
— Nigel Westlake, Composer
Interested in anything that makes sound, Sam’s music making extends from the classical period to music by friends and colleagues today. He also has a handful of cross-genre projects under his belt including work for Red Bull Symphonic.
When he was 15, Sam conducted the William Tell Overture with his school orchestra at the Sydney Opera House and hoped that one day he would be able to conduct orchestras professionally.
Nowadays, he is occupied with continuing relationships with organisations in Australia and The Netherlands including; Noord Nederlands Orkest, Het Radiophilharmonisch Orkest, West Australian Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra Victoria, Adelaide Symphony, Opera Australia and the Dutch National Opera Academy. Recent highlights include Opera Australia’s 70th Anniversary Gala, Firebird with Orchestra Victoria, A Kurt Weill and Viktor Ullmann double-bill with Residentie Orkest and the Dutch National Opera Academy, and a Bryce Dessner portrair concert with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. Currently Sam is preparing a production of Britten’s War Requiem in The Hague, involving over 320 musicians on stage.
In 2025 Sam was awarded ‘Designated Winner’ of the International Conducting Competition Rotterdam - subsequently conducting the Rotterdam Philharmonic, Orchestra of the 18th Century and Klangforum Wien.
Sam studied under Ed Spanjaard, Jac van Steen, and Kenneth Montgomery & Antony Hermus, through the prestigious National Masters of Orchestral Conducting, working alongside many of the Netherlands' top orchestras. As an assistant Sam has worked for and learnt from: Simone Young, Karina Canellakis & Jules Buckley. Sam obtained a Bachelor of Music (Performance) majoring in classical saxophone in 2019 at Sydney Conservatorium of Music.
Please do not reproduce this Bio - Programme bio available via Askonas Holt.
Upcoming Dates
Britten’s War Requiem
October 17 - 18
De Grote Kerk
Benjamin Britten
Koninklijk Conservertoire Orkest & Koor, Nationaal Jongens Koor, Residentie Bach Korale
The Magic Flute
March 2027
Sydney Opera House
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Opera Australia
Heroes and Hallucinations
Feb 26 - 27
Studio Underground
Thomas Ades, Nuno Lobo (Au Prem), Lisa Illean
West Australian Symphony Orchestra
Ensemble Apex
Announcement in late 2026
Sydney
The Magic Flute
May 2027
State Theatre, Melbourne
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Opera Australia
Stravinsky’s Firebird
October 7 - 8, 2027
Heath Ledger Theatre
Igor Stravinsky, W.A Mozart, Lachlan Skipworth (prem)
West Australian Symphony Orchestra - Liz Chee Oboe Soloist
Colourful Characters
October 21-23, 2027
Various Locations
HK Gruber, Arnold Schoenberg, Aaron Copland, Igor Stravinsky.
Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Fellows & Kanen Breen
Under the Moonlight
November 3rd
Elder Hall
Beethoven/Stokowski, Camille Saint-Saens, Zoltan Kodaly
Adelaide Symphony Orchestra and James Morley
+ Further 2027 dates will be listed in November, 2026.