Orchestra Director

Sam is a currently a student at the Guildhall School, studying trombone, jazz and arranging/composition. His orchestral experience as principal trombone of NYOGB and at the Royal College of Music Junior Department ignited a passion for the ensemble, consequently wanting to combine the most versatile ‘classical’ collection of instruments with genres he was exposed to from a young age. He has experimented with many different aspects of music through composition and arranging to find an individual style, whilst heavily contributing to the youth generation of musicians from organising concert series’ at his old music specialist state school, Guildford County, right through to recording and conducting at Birmingham Symphony Hall. Sam has arranged an array of pieces and charts for the Royal Family, NYOGB, RCMJD, and the BBC, conducting all of his orchestral arrangements to date. He also composes for film with These People Make Pictures, and works on orchestration with Universal Music Group. Sam created Capital as an opportunity for musicians at conservatoire in London to network between colleges and with artists, and be a part of an orchestra that will further the development of music, break ‘classical’ stereotypes, and further the exposure of the youth generation. He is grateful for the team of representatives he has around him, and is excited about how to the orchestra will grow in the coming years.

Royal Academy of Music relations

Thea is a 19 year old originally from  Southampton, currently in her second year at the Royal Academy of Music in London. She is currently studying with Graham Mitchell and Tom Goodman, after previously learning with David Heyes. Thea played in a lot of the youth music groups back in Southampton, including the Southampton Youth Orchestra and Southampton Jazz Workshop for over 10 years. In 2015, she auditioned for the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain, who she played with for two years. Playing at venues like the Royal Albert Hall for the BBC Proms, the Royal Festival Hall, Barbican and Birmingham Symphony Hall. Whilst studying at the Academy, Thea has enjoyed playing with variety of ensembles like Oxford Philharmonia, London Philharmonic Orchestra’s Junior Artists, Chineke! Orchestra and the Royal Academy of Music Symphony Orchestra directed by Edward Gardner. Recently, she played for Storzmy with Chineke! Junior Orchestra at his Adidas x #Merky tracksuit launch.

Upcoming projects include, recording a cinematic album for Joe Leader, recording an album for Bob Marley’s birthday with Chineke! Orchestra and playing at the Royal Albert Hall with Carl Craig and Chineke! Orchestra.

Guildhall School of Music and Drama relations

James is a trombonist and composer from Oxford who started his BMus at the Guildhall School in 2017. He is classically trained and has performed with jazz organisations including NYJO, NYJC and groups at Oxford University. Previous performance venues have included Ronnie Scott’s, the Barbican, Birmingham International Jazz Festival and Pizza Express Soho. He has received coaching from players such as Elliot Mason, Bob Mintzer, Mark Mondesir and Martin Shaw, and his varied musical tastes means he has been involved in numerous projects ranging from contemporary classical music to hip-hop. James hasn’t lost a game of chess since 2016.