Sam Perkin
Based between France and Ireland, Cork-born Sam Perkin composes music for leading musicians and ensembles in Ireland and abroad.
In the space between classical and experimental music, his artistic work has a particular focus on the exploration of wonder and awe.
Sam has had fruitful collaborations with a vast array of performing artists such as The Irish Chamber Orchestra, Luminosa Orchestra, RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra, The Vanbrugh Quartet, Marmen Quartet, Crash Ensemble, Explore Ensemble, Trompo, Finghin Collins, Miranda Cuckson, Vicky Chow, James McVinnie, Fidelio Trio, Sitkovetsky Trio, and Paddington Trio.
He has also successfully worked with festivals such as Musica Nova Festival Helsinki, Network For New Music Philadelphia, West Cork Chamber Music Festival, Louth Contemporary Music Festival, Buxton International Festival UK, Sound Scotland, Gregynog Festival Wales, Festivalta Norway, and La Cote Flute Festival Switzerland.
Sam’s music has been performed in over 20 countries and he had a Wigmore Hall debut in 2023 with his Piano Trio “Freakshow”, which has now been performed over 40 times worldwide. Notably, Perkin’s work “Visualization” was performed by Dejana Sekulič at the opening launch concert of the 33rd Music Biennale Zagreb in 2024.
Sam holds degrees in Composition from the Cork School of Music, Ireland, and an Artist Diploma from Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Lyon, France, where he was awarded the Prix Salabert for Composition.
A Commission to Mark the 30th Birthday of the West Cork Chamber Music Festival
The 30th West Cork Chamber Music Festival (27 June – 6 July) begins with the world premiere of a new work by Sam Perkin, who regularly attended the festival while he was growing up. Sam explains that the work is inspired by the quality and the imagination the festival has consistently demonstrated throughout the years, but also by its intimacy and capacity to surprise:
‘There is a recognisable type of magic that is birthed and rebirthed in Bantry each year. It is of inspiring moments, formative experiences, and uniquely random encounters. This magic, in all its mysterious and unknowable nature, is woven into this piece.’
www.samperkincomposer.com
