Born in Hong Kong and raised in Canberra, Sam started playing cello at the age of 8 and the trombone two years later. In 2009 he graduated from the Sydney Conservatorium with degrees on Bass Trombone before delving into a career in Arts Management.
From 2010, Sam worked in the Operations team of the Australian Youth Orchestra. During his five years in this role, he managed numerous diverse musical projects across Australia as well as planning and executing two major International Tours, featuring performances in renown venues across Europe and in China including the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam and the Royal Albert Hall in London.
Since 2015, Sam has held roles in Artistic Planning in with both the Auckland Philharmonia and Sydney Symphony Orchestras, which afforded him the opportunity to work alongside leading conductors and artists including Vladimir Ashkenazy, Christoph Eschenbach, Donald Runnicles, Simone Young, David Robertson, Sir Mark Elder, Anne Sophie Mutter, Emanuel Ax, Isabelle Faust, Simon O’Neill and Kirill Gerstein.
A passionate advocate for engaging new audiences and making classical music accessible, Sam has had the pleasure of creating and producing several innovative concert performances, including collaborations with the Pop-Up Globe, the cirque performers of the Dust Palace and a late-night ‘session’ with the Kiwi funk & soul fusion supergroup, Leisure.
Away from work Sam is a keen cook, a coffee lover and a tennis tragic.
Return to Festival Committee and Sponsors