^{FIRST PUBLISHED 9 OCT 2026}

Cellist and viol player Samuel Ng frequently works with ensembles including Academy of Ancient Music, Dunedin Consort, La Serenissima, The English Concert and Arcangelo. Samuel is a core member of two emerging ensembles: Liturina, who were Philip and Dorothy Green Young Artists and released their debut album of Bach trio sonatas paired with jazz compositions by Jonny Mansfield, and Republic of Viols. Samuel currently teaches at the Royal College of Music Junior Department.

What made you choose the cello?

I was lucky to go to a primary school in London where there was a fantastic music service and my first cello teacher, Janet, was doing a classroom demonstration of the cello. I was sold after she did harmonic glissandi with her other students.

How did you get into Historical Performance Practice / Early Music?

As a teenager, I had an obsession with old recordings of 20th-century violinists and cellists like Christian Ferras, Zara Nelsova and Daniil Shafran. Besides their interpretations, I was most captured by their personal sounds. My teacher at the Junior Academy was Heather Harrison and she allowed me to experiment with set-ups and I remember turning up to a lesson with gut strings trying to play the Walton Cello Concerto. She was a bit too nice to me with how I sounded. Moving forward, when I was an older student at Junior Academy, I was put in a project with Laurence Cummings and we played some concerti grossi. I absolutely loved it! It was only natural that I ended up doing a joint principal course at the RCM with the baroque cello and modern cello!

You are a member of Republic of Viols – an ensemble formed earlier this year. Can you tell us a bit about the background and foundation of this group?

RoV was formed recently to celebrate Dowland 400. It was all down to the lovely Jacob Garside who masterminded everything and has dealt with all the admin throughout. There’s just something so amazing about a viol consort with each part being equally important. I think this is really where chamber music begins…

What is your idea of perfect happiness?

Being horizontal on my sofa with my French Bulldog Winnie. One or both of us may be snoring…

What is your superpower / superhero ability?

Sleeping anywhere or at any time.

What non-musical hobbies or interests do you have?

I love cooking and I think I’m a pretty effortless cook. My family are Chinese and we grew up in Malaysia, with some of the best food in the world. I just don’t think there’s space for bland food, sorry.

What is it that you most dislike? Feel free to explain why, or not!

Having to make a reservation at a restaurant in advance. I vote for first come first serve. Oh and walking slowly too, I’m a very fast walker!

Who is your favourite composer, and why?

Impossible question! Some favourites though - Handel for vibrancy, Prokofiev for his soaring melodies, Britten for his colours and Bach for the humanity and soul.

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^{Liturina performs JS Bach Trio Sonata in G major, BWV 1038}

If you could meet anyone from the past, who would it be?

Bit crazy to say but maybe Jesus? Nobody has shifted so much in the western cultural landscape as him, and of course the sacred art that follows has so much beauty. I’m intrigued…

Would you like to put the spotlight on a teacher, a mentor or an ensemble that has had a significant influence on your journey so far, and why?

Oh I’ve been so lucky with so many inspiring people in my education/career, but I think my baroque cello teacher Sarah McMahon really takes the spotlight here. I remember having this slump feeling with music and not being sure if it was the path for me but a few days later, I saw Sarah playing some continuo at Wigmore Hall. There was just such elegance, dance and joy in her playing that I knew I had to learn with her. I’m now fortunate to sometimes be her deskie but I will always see her as the person that shaped me most as a musician.

You play with several different ensembles, including Liturina and the Republic of Viols. How do you balance this, and what do you enjoy most about this aspect of your career?

You quickly learn to be organised as a freelance musician, but I think that’s the fun of it. One day I’ll be rehearsing a Handel opera with The English Concert and next day I might be playing some Dowland with RoV or playing continuo with Liturina. I get bored easily so it’s nice to always have a changing timetable. It also helps that the HP world is filled with the most wholesome people and it’s also nice to see people in projects whom you may not have seen for a while.

Liturina released their debut album Bach X Mansfield (funded by Continuo Foundation) in 2025. Could you share with us any special moments in the realisation of this project?

I think reading through Jonny Mansfield’s 1038 and 1039 for the first time was quite special for all of us. As a composer, Jonny is very specific with what he wants but was also very open and flexible to what we had to say too. I think contemporary music is such an amazing jigsaw to work out and working out the language of any good music is always such fun.

You work as a chamber music coach at the Royal College of Music Junior Department. Can you tell us more about the place of teaching in your career?

Oh I love teaching! I have been so fortunate to have been inspired by so many teachers/mentors that I feel it’s my duty to try and pass it on. My specialism within the RCMJD is Baroque chamber coaching and trying to teach stylistic playing within a Baroque context. It is such a special feeling when students get that lightbulb moment and their eyes widen slightly. It’s a really special feeling! I passed on an ex-student to a colleague to continue baroque cello lessons privately and I overheard that this student was planning to venture to The Hague to really immerse themself in the HP world. Chuffed!

A big thank you to Samuel for talking to us about his flourishing career! Republic of Viols has two concerts coming up this month in Bristol (9 October) and Brighton (17 October), and one in November in St Leonards-on-Sea (22 November), all supported by a grant from Continuo Foundation.