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Samuel Brown
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- London
- United Kingdom
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Sam Brown - Guitarist
Profile Information
- My location (city and country)
- London, UK
- About me
- Sam first began playing age 12, on an old guitar given to him as a Christmas present. Working out chords, notes and a few tunes on his aunt's £10 guitar, Sam swiftly moved on to more complicated pieces when was given a book of Francisco Tarrega for his 13th birthday.
Pure chance swiftly put Sam in touch with Alexander Levtov, Headmaster of the Regis School of Music, with whom he started weekly lessons. Crucially, he also joined the West Sussex Guitar Club (of which his teacher was Artistic Director), a club founded for and by enthusiasts of Classical and Flamenco guitar.
In the fertile musical environment, his knack for the instrument soon became evident: progressing to Grade 8 standard in his first year, Sam was soon playing in small concerts, in professional masterclasses and in local competitions, and tackling an increasingly difficult repertoire. That year, he was awarded the Regis School of Music's Nancy Hedger Memorial – the Award for Best Achieving Student.
At 16, Sam passed his GCSE Music with an A*, earning a 100% mark in performance and composition. That summer, he also won a full scholarship to attend West Dean International Guitar Festival. Here he was invited to participate in a masterclass with Maestro Leo Brouwer, and earned a standing ovation performing in the course's final concert.
In 2010, Sam was sponsored by Bognor Regis Lions Club to enter the Lions' annual International Music Competition, winning second place in the Regional Finals. Passing AS music with an A – and again with a 100% performance mark – he was invited to attend a high-level guitar course by Professor Judicael Perroy, for whom he had played in a masterclass.
Having entered that year's Chichester Music Festival, Sam from 1,000 entrants was awarded the coveted Kathleen Bryant Memorial Award – given annually to the participant “most expressing the deepest love of music Kathleen embodied”. For the third year running, he also won the Nancy Hedger Memorial Cup.
From September 2010 to June 2011 Sam, studying under a full bursary, took lessons at the Junior Royal College of Music with Charles Ramirez. Now 18, he won a place as a finalist in the West Sussex Young Musician Award. Having been offered places at the Royal Welsh, Royal College and Trinity Colleges of Music, Sam – now an established, and popular, performer on the South Coast – is a full-time student at the Royal College of Music.
Since his first paid performance age 14, Sam has spotlighted in some 20 concerts, and provided music for - amongst others - weddings, funerals, anniversaries, private parties, business functions, art galleries, restaurants and open-air festivals.
This October, Sam was invited to give a spotlight performance in Trebbin, Berlin. Having played at their annual reception, the town's Burgomeister commended the "highly gifted young musician" whose short performance was featured in the local press. He was subsequently reinvited to give a concert this year in their sister town, Weil am Rhein, Germany.
Some performance feedback
“... a highly promising guitarist – excellent technical facility... intense expression and concentration.” - Charles Ramirez, former Head of Guitar, Royal College of Music
“A great, great player!!” - Stepan Rak, Head (and founder) of Guitar at Prague Conservatoire
(masterclass at Regis School of Music 2011)
“This boy plays beautifully!” - Pavel Steidl
(on playing at West Dean Guitar Festival 2008)
“Very promising young musician.” - Leo Brouwer
(masterclass at West Dean Guitar Festival 2009)
“Really a tremendous player, well done!” - Edoardo Catemario
(masterclass at Brighton Music Festival 2011)
“Excellent communication and a thoroughly enjoyable performance.” - Gary Ryan, Assistant Head of Strings, Royal College of Music
(masterclass at West Sussex Guitar Festival 2010)
“I think he has what it takes: strong musical feeling.” - Raymond Gratien, Professor at Marseilles Conservatoire
(on playing at Entraygues Guitar Festival 2010)
“an excellent guitarist... his playing made Natalia cry.” - Judicael Perroy, Professor at Aulnay-sous-Bois Conservatoire
(speaking of Natalia Lipnitskya; recital at Entraygues Guitar Festival 2010)
“I thoroughly enjoyed his playing.” - Irina Kulikova
(masterclass at Regis School of Music 2010)
“well crafted, mystical and mesmeric...Sam interpreted with a sensitivity, strength and intensity that captivated the audience.” - Bognor Regis Observer
(review, June 2011)
“subtle and articulate playing, real poise... a really effective performance.” - John Jenkins (adjudicating SD Music Competition 2011)
“A performance presented with considerable flair, sensitivity and freedom, considerable personality... played with confidence, conviction and great tonal & dynamic range. He gives the impression of really believing in his music.” - John Foster
(adjudicating RCM Angela Bull Competition 2011)
“Played with very nice control of tempo, tone, articulation and phrasing and I enjoyed it very much. Bravo!” - Vincent Lindsey-Clark
(adjudicating West Sussex Guitar Festival 2010)
“An engaging platform manner, poised and atmospheric performance... deeply felt, certainly confident; a colourful and assured account.” - William Bruce
(adjudicating Sevenoaks Music Competition 2011)
Contact through www.sambrownguitar.com
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Samuel Brown's Blog
Gitarrespielen
So, having just returned from a week's spotlighting near Berlin, I thought I might just write a little here - that's what a blog is for, I suppose.
My hometown is twinned with a borough about half an hour from Berlin called Trebbin, and last year I performed for the twinning reception when they came to England. This year I was invited to return the favour, giving two spotlight performances at the various formalities in Germany: one for the members of the twinning association, the…
ContinuePosted on October 10, 2011 at 4:27pm
So, hello everyone!
Sam Brown.
Posted on September 20, 2011 at 11:00pm
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Hi Sam, I believe we played in Petworth some time ago! Hope you're enjoying the RCM.
Ben