Samantha Wickramasinghe
Violin
Samantha joined WASO in 2023.
Samantha was born in Perth and began violin studies with her father, aged five. At 18 she won a scholarship to study at the Royal Academy of Music, London, with Lydia Mordkovitch, graduating with First Class Honours.
Samantha has played with every major orchestra in London including the London Symphony, Philharmonia, Royal Philharmonic, London Philharmonic, BBC Symphony, English National Opera and Royal Opera House Orchestras. Further afield she has appeared as Co-Leader with BBC National Orchestra of Wales and Principal 2nd with Bournemouth Symphony, English National and Northern Ballets. She has performed in most of the great concert halls and cities of Western Europe, and toured around 40 different countries.
She has appeared annually from 2006 at the BBC Proms, on BBC TV/Radio 3 broadcasts and multiple ‘LSO Live’ recordings. She has worked with a host of eminent conductors including Sir Colin Davis, Gergiev, Pappano, Rattle, Boulez, Previn, Nelsons, Gatti, Xavier Roth, Bychkov, Alsop, Eliot Gardiner, Elder, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Harding and Petrenko.
As a chamber musician, she was a prize winner with the Royal Overseas League, Park Lane Group and Tunnell Trust. Her ensembles commissioned several composers including Stuart MacRae, Timothy Salter and Colin Riley. She has performed Brahms violin concerto as soloist with orchestra, and performed at The Wigmore Hall, Purcell Room, Conway Hall and Cadogan Hall.
A passionate educator, she regularly collaborated with LSO’s East London Academy, bringing classical music to underrepresented communities in the area. She has worked as a coach for the National Youth Orchestra of Wales, and in partnership with Brunel University.
Outside of classical music, Samantha was in demand as a session musician, working at Abbey Road, Pinewood and AIR studios, recording countless soundtracks/albums for the likes of Harry Potter and Marvel films, Downton Abbey, Apple TV, the BBC, Ed Sheeran, Paloma Faith and video game soundtracks. She has performed with Elton John, Rod Stewart, Wynton Marsalis, at the BRIT/Olivier Awards and on stage in Ibiza and Las Vegas.
She returned home to Perth in 2022 after 22 years away to be near her family again.
Samantha plays on a 1746 Carcassi violin, and is grateful for the support of the Tillett Trust.
Samantha's Chair is supported by The Baker Family through the Duet program.