Sam Weller

Sam Weller was recently announced as one of six ‘designated winners’ of the International Conducting Competition Rotterdam, which saw him conduct ensembles such as the Rotterdam Philharmonic, Klangforum Wien and Orchestra of the 18th Century in 2025.

Sam is enjoying a blossoming career in The Netherlands and Australia, with a recent debut at the Concertgebouw with the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic and performances of two staged operas with Residentie Orkest and the Dutch National Opera Academy. Upcoming highlights include debuts with the Tasmanian, Queensland and West Australian Symphonies and a return to Adelaide Symphony. In the past Sam has led performances with Noord Nederlands Orkest, The Netherlands Radio Philharmonic, PHION, Phil Zuid and a national tour of Die Zauberflöte with Opera2Day and LUDWIG Orchestra.

Originally from Australia, and now based between Sydney and Amsterdam, Sam founded Ensemble Apex in 2016, which has been hailed as ‘one of the most exciting new ensembles on the Sydney scene’ (Limelight Magazine). The orchestra creates exceptional orchestral music experiences for newcomers and seasoned concert-goers alike. Apex has presented sold-out seasons since 2016, with highlights including Bela Bartok’s Miraculous Mandarin at Sydney Town Hall, Rhapsody in Blue with Simon Tedeschi, Strauss’ Eine Alpensinfonie and most recently a critically acclaimed production of Verdi’s Messa da Requiem. In 2024 they launched Apex Festival supported by the Australian Government – a cutting edge new orchestral music festival in Australia.

In 2022 Sam graduated from the prestigious National Masters of Orchestral Conducting in The Netherlands where he studied with Ed Spanjaard, Jac Van Steen, Kenneth Montgomery OBE and guest professor Antony Hermus.

Sam is a guest lecturer and conductor at Sydney Conservatorium of Music, Conservatorium van Amsterdam and Koninklijk Conservatoire – Den Haag.