An 18-year-old student, Sam is a first year classicist at Jesus College, Oxford but remains an active recorder player, having studied under Chris Orton at the Junior Royal Northern College of Music, also receiving tuition from Alan Davis, Anna Stegmann and Dorothee Oberlinger. He also studied the bassoon with Rebekah Abramski, achieving dipABRSM diplomas in both instruments, as well as conducting, composition and chamber music. A multi-instrumentalist, Sam holds ARSM diplomas on the tenor saxophone and clarinet and grade 8 on piano. Performance highlights include playing Thomas Koppel’s concerto ‘Moonchild's Dream’ with the JRNCM Sinfonia, conducted by Eduardo Portal, in July 2022 - the first performance of this work since 2004 - and Malcolm Arnold's Recorder Concerto with the Stockport Youth Orchestra in October 2021. Sam has also competed widely both at a local level, winning the Robin Hood Music and Drama Festival and the Don Valley Music Festival in Doncaster three times each, and further afield, taking part in the Amsterdam Open Recorder Days Festival 2019 and BBC Young Musician 2020 and 2022. Sam is passionate about highlighting the potential of the recorder in the contemporary classical world and regularly incorporates experimental works into his performances. He hopes to promote the instrument as a founding member of the South Yorkshire Recorder Academy which aims to widen access and participation through tutorials, workshops and masterclasses.