Samantha is a classical violinist with additional specialisms in folk and traditional music. From 2012 she has worked as a theatre musician and is versatile and adaptable across a multitude of genres, and is a specialist in onstage memory work. She performs extensively as a chamber, orchestral and theatre musician and is also in demand as a session player, featuring on many recordings and soundtracks. 

 

Having first picked up a violin aged ten whilst growing up in Norfolk, Samantha continued her studies and completed a Masters degree at Birmingham Conservatoire with head violin tutor Nathaniel Vallois. Whilst gaining considerable experience as a solo, orchestral and chamber musician, Samantha continued to explore her passion for traditional folk music.

Samantha has worked regularly for the Royal Shakespeare Company since 2012 for numerous shows in Stratford-upon-Avon and London, as well as several nationwide and world tours. She has also recently performed in productions at Shakespeare's Globe, Liverpool Everyman Theatre and Leeds Playhouse. She has frequently appeared onstage often doubling on other instruments such as Stroh-violin and Welsh Harp. Notable work with the RSC has included the King and Country History Cycle tour to China/Hong Kong/New York in 2016 with music by Paul Englishby, a brand new musical by Sam Kenyon about the life of renowned theatre pioneer Joan Littlewood, and most recently the reprisal of A Christmas Carol with music by Catherine Jayes in which Samantha appeared as violinist Mrs Touchnote. Other on-stage appearances have included a soldier, first world war nurse and even a monkey...

 

Several shows Samantha has performed in have been broadcast around the world live in cinemas, and subsequently released on DVD. Composers she has worked with also include Grant Olding, Michael Bruce, Adem Ilham and Isobel Waller-Bridge, and her playing is featured on several RSC CD recordings of both contemporary and archive material.

 

Prior to this Samantha was a founder member of the Old Dance School (now known as the Fair Rain) with whom she performed until 2015. With them she toured the UK and Europe, recorded three studio albums and one live album, and performed at all the UK's major folk festivals. The band have been featured many times on BBC Radio 2's folk shows and also on RTE and Swedish national radio. Renowned for their dynamic and virtuosic live performances, the band explored contemporary folk music and utilised its members' classical and jazz backgrounds, creating a truly unique and formidable sound. Notable performances include Birmingham Town Hall, Celtic Connections, Shrewsbury and Purbeck Folk Festivals, Nordsjøfestivalen and Isle de Tatihou Festival. 

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Samantha is a founder member of the Keum String Trio and performs regularly at chamber music engagements across the UK. She is also a busy freelance orchestral and session musician and a regular player with various ceilidh bands and other folk and traditional ensembles.

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