Sam Taylor is an Australian composer and guitarist. In 2015, he completed his undergraduate studies at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston under the guidance of Stratis Minakakis. He is currently studying with Frédéric Durieux at the Paris Conservatory. Taylor has participated in multiple summer academies including the Academie de Voix Nouvelles at the Abbaye de Royaumont, the VIPA academy in Valencia and the academy of the American Conservatory of Fontainebleau. His works have been performed by the Ensemble Intercontemporain, the Mivos Quartet and les Métaboles. In 2020, he premiered his work Quakin’ ’n’ Groovin’ as the electric guitarist with the Ensemble Intercontemporain.

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It’s thanks to the Voix Nouvelles Academy at the Abbaye de Royaumont that Sam Taylor has this commission to compose a work for flute, clarinet, French horn, percussion, violin, cello and double bass for Ensemble Musikfabrik, to be played at the 2020 edition of the Voix Nouvelles Academy. Taylor has always been fascinated by natural environments, especially mountainous forests so he decided to explore this personal connection in this work. The title Synesthésie Cachée (Hidden Synesthesia) is inspired by the connections between the senses of touch, hearing and sight that he experiences when he is in a forest.

Sam Taylor was in residence at Camargo from May 20 to June 9, 2020, in partnership with the Royaumont Foundation.