ASO in the Barossa

Sam Weller was announced one of six ‘designated winners’ of the 2025 International Conducting Competition Rotterdam, where he conducted the Rotterdam Philharmonic, Klangforum Wien and Orchestra of the 18th Century. This season, he débuts with the Tasmanian, Queensland and West Australian Symphonies and returns to Adelaide Symphony. Recent highlights include Sam’s first performance at the Concertgebouw with Netherlands Radio Philharmonic. In 2016, Sam founded Ensemble Apex, hailed as ‘one of the most exciting new ensembles on the Sydney scene’ (Limelight Magazine). In 2024 they launched Apex Festival, supported by the Australian Government. Sam studied under Ed Spanjaard, Jac van Steen, Kenneth Montgomery and Antony Hermus, through the prestigious National Masters of Orchestral Conducting. Sam is a guest lecturer and conductor at Sydney Conservatorium of Music, Conservatorium van Amsterdam and Koninklijk Conservatoire, Den Haag.

Adrian grew up in Malvern, Worcestershire in the UK. He studied Biological Sciences at Oxford University and then moved to London on a scholarship for postgraduate French Horn study at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Adrian started his freelance career in London and primarily played with the London Philharmonic Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, London Symphony Orchestra and Philharmonia Orchestra. This led to playing as Guest Principal Horn with most UK orchestras and undertaking numerous tours in many countries internationally. He then moved to Adelaide for his appointment as Principal Horn of the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra and has since been invited to play Guest Principal with many other Australian Symphony Orchestras. He enjoys regularly performing chamber and solo music and has played concertos with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, including the 4th Concerto broadcast live on ABC Classic FM. Outside of his performing career he is also a French Horn teacher and tutors in the Adelaide community orchestras. In his spare time he is a member of several conservation groups, regularly organising animal surveys in remote outback locations and also competes in ultramarathons.

Violins
Cameron Hill** (Acting Concertmaster)
Holly Piccoli* (Acting Associate Concertmaster)
Liam Oborne* (Acting Principal 1st Violin)
Alison Heike** (Principal 2nd Violin)
Lachlan Bramble ~ (Associate Principal 2nd Violin)
Janet Anderson
Erna Berberyan
Minas Berberyan
Julia Brittain
Nadia Buck
Chia-Nan Hung
Danielle Jaquillard
Alexis Milton
Michael Milton
Julie Newman
Emma Perkins
Alexander Permezel
Kemeri Spurr

Violas
Linda Garrett** (Acting Section Principal)
Rosi McGowran~ (Acting Associate Principal)
Martin Alexander
Andrew Crothers
Anna Hansen
Michael Robertson

Cellos
Sharon Grigoryan** (Acting Section Principal)
Andrew Leask~ (Acting Associate Principal)
Gemma Phillips
David Sharp
Zoe Wallace

Double Basses
Belinda Kendall-Smith ** (Acting Section Principal)
Harley Gray~ (Acting Associate Principal)
Jacky Chang
Holly Little

Flutes
Kim Falconer**
Lisa Gill

Oboe
Joshua Oates**
Renae Stavely~

Clarinet
Dean Newcomb**
Darren Skelton

Bassoons
Mark Gaydon**
Jackie Newcomb

Horns
Sarah Barrett** (Acting Section Principal)
Emma Gregan

Trumpets
Martin Phillipson** (Acting Section Principal)
Gregory Frick

Tuba
Stan McDonald*

Timpani
Andrew Penrose*

** denotes Section Principal
~ denotes Associate Principal
* denotes Principal Player