Contact
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 occuppied with continuing relationships between Australian and Dutch orchestras and organisations including: Noord Nederlands Orkest, Het Radiophilharmonisch Orkest, West Australian Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra Victoria, Queensland Symphony and Adelaide Symphony, Opera Australia and the Dutch National Opera Academy.
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
Hello World!
June 19th
De Oosterport
Adams | Mahler | De Graaf and more
Noord Nederlands Orkest
Firebird
July 24
Bendigo
Stravinsky | Debussy | Glinka
Orchestra Victoria
Orchestra Victoria
July 27 - Aug 6
Regional Tour
Various programs
REICH: REJOICE: REPEAT
September 12 - 13
Reich
ACO on the Pier
Ensemble Offspring
Bryce Dessner: Portrait Concert
September 23 - 24
Bryce Dessner
City Recital Hall, Melbourne Recital Centre
Sydney Symphony Orchestra
Britten’s War Requiem
October 17 - 18
De Grote Kerk
Britten
Koninklijk Conservertoire Orkest
The Magic Flute
Jan - March (Sydney Opera House),
May (Arts Centre Melbourne) 2027
Mozart
Opera Australia
+ 2027 dates will be listed in November