“A thing of mesmerising beauty.”

— David Kettle, The Scotsman

Based between France and Ireland, Sam Perkin composes music for leading musicians and ensembles in Ireland and abroad. His music has been performed in 20 countries. 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, Gábor Takács-Nagy, Luminosa Orchestra, RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra, Vanbrugh Quartet, Marmen Quartet, Tchalik Quartet, Crash Ensemble, Explore Ensemble, Finghin Collins, Miranda Cuckson, Diamanda Dramm, James McVinnie, Fidelio Trio, Sitkovetsky Trio, and Paddington Trio.

Perkin has also successfully worked with festivals such as Musica Nova Festival (Helsinki), Network For New Music (Philadelphia), West Cork Chamber Music Festival, Das Haus (Belgium), Kilkenny Arts Festival, Alpenarte Festival (Austria), Louth Contemporary Music Festival, Buxton International Festival (UK), Sound Festival (Scotland), Gregynog Festival in (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. Perkin’s Piano Trio “Freakshow” was performed at Janine Jansen’s International Chamber Music Festival in Utrecht last year is also programmed at Lucerne Chamber Music Society 2027.

Commissioned for the Clara Haskil International Piano Competition, Switzerland, “Le Monde des Adultes” will be performed by 26 pianists in August 2025. Notably, Perkin’s work “Visualization” was performed by Dejana Sekulič at the opening launch concert of the 33rd Music Biennale Zagreb 2025.

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. Sam Perkin completed a residency in 2022 with Crash Ensemble, Ireland’s leading new music ensemble. He has conducted the Irish Chamber Orchestra.

“A perfect thing.”

— Iarla Ó Lionáird on “The More Beautiful World”