Sam Brough

Sam joined the Auckland Philharmonia as Principal Contrabassoonist in September 2022 following three years as Principal Bassoon with Swedish chamber orchestra, Dalasinfoniettan.

Sam has been a guest player with major orchestras throughout the UK and Scandinavia, and has completed trials with City of Birmingham Symphony orchestra (Principal No.2), Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra (Principal) and Royal Northern Sinfonia (2nd bassoon) as well as regularly performing with Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra, Manchester Camerata and recently the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra.

Highlights of Sam’s training at the Royal Northern College of Music (Manchester UK) and Hochschule für Musik, Mannheim (Germany) include joining the Mahler Chamber Orchestra Academy on a two week tour of Germany; performing with Britten Pears Orchestra under Marin Alsop as principal bassoon for concerts of Stravinsky’s Rite of Spring at the Festival Hall London; and performing on the Faroe Islands with Faroese rock metal band, Týr.

Off the stage, Sam spear-headed ‘Mixtape’ – an immersive music experience with his orchestra in Sweden, taking curated chamber music programmes into museums, galleries and libraries as ‘live playlists’ which mutually enhanced the exhibitions and aurally drew audiences through the spaces.

Competition success includes the Royal Overseas League - wind section finalist in 2017 and winning the RNCM concerto competition in 2014. Also a seasoned recording artist, Sam features on numerous records with Chandos, Naxos and Deustche Gramaphon - performing the Villa Lobos Concerto Grosso as bassoon soloist and Mozart’s piano concertos with Manchester Camerata and Jean-Efflam Bavouzet amongst others.