Having just graduated from a two-year Masters at the Royal Academy of Music, violinist Samuel Cutajar is commencing his freelancing career not only in London, his current base, but across Europe. He feels fortunate to be one of the few Maltese violinists to successfully complete a degree at this prestigious institution, preceded by renowned icon Carmine Lauri.
He recalls his musical journey’s humble origins; his love for the instrument was initiated when his parents took him and his brothers to a Malta Philharmonic Orchestra concert, and his 6-year-old self being transfixed by the sound and movements of the violin section. He was fortunate to be under the tutelage of Antoine Frendo two weeks after this concert, under whose direction he obtained his Licentiate of Trinity College London. 10 years later, Samuel became a Malta Philharmonic Intern and was already seeking to expand his horizons abroad.
Cutajar moved to London in 2018 to study at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance in 2018 under the tuition of Clare Thompson, achieving a first-class honours. There he became the Vera Kantrovich Bach competition winner and also got to be concertmaster of the Trinity Laban Symphony orchestra.
From there he moved to the Royal Academy under the mentorship of Professor Philippe Honoré. In the Academy, he felt a massive rise in the level of opportunities and projects. Samuel got to collaborate with Sir Simon Rattle and co-lead the Royal Academy Symphony Orchestra under Sir Mark Elder. He also was selected as a RAM Soloist working with Julliard Students under Barbara Hannigan for a recording commissioned by Linn Records and was awarded an apprenticeship scheme with the Royal Ballet Sinfonia. He has just concluded his studies with a Distinction, obtaining the Dip RAM. Cutajar finds pleasure in originality and was praised for his “musical assurance” and a performance that displayed his “personality and infectious energy”.
During his time in the Academy, he also got to perform Tartini’s infamous “Devil’s Trill” as a soloist with the Uzbekistan National Symphony Orchestra and Paganini’s “Moses Fantasy” with the ‘Kyiv Virtuosi’ in Chieti, Italy; after his “Brillanti Competition” victory in 2022.
Samuel admits that the Academy also brought with it tough times in his musical development. He is proud of his achievements but admits that the environment at such a high-level institution also brought a feeling of constant discomforting critique. Competition is absolutely necessary in everyone’s development, but it could get in the way of your own confidence with the instrument. His completion from the Academy therefore brings with it a sense of freedom yet also artistic responsibility for the continuation of a holistically-balanced career as a violinist.
Cutajar’s months ahead include a tour with Sinfonia Cymru, an ensemble promoting young talents across the UK. They will be recording a “Climate Change Awareness” programme featured by Sky TV; a programme reimagining Vivaldi’s Four Seasons.
He will also be going to Simorre, in France, with the Baci Quartet and Royal Academy Professors for a Chamber Music Festival. In October he will be off to Cremona for concerts with the Agon Ensemble, a group of leading young musicians coming from allover Europe that provide quality concerts but also community outreach programmes.
He will also be performing in the Netherlands in October with the ‘Somer Orkest’, featuring a programme of lesser-known works for the audiences there. What makes his collaboration in the Netherlands special is that he works together with his other half, Camille Buitenhuis, also a violinist studying at the Royal Academy and violinist with the London Philharmonic Orchestra. He has been in a relationship for almost 3 years and finds exceptional beauty in the two sharing their musical journey and becoming always closer via this same path.
What makes Cutajar’s journey similar to Carmine Lauri’s is his future projects with the Royal Ballet Sinfonia. Carmine was on trial with this orchestra when he had just graduated from the Academy himself. He is very excited to be performing in this orchestra’s production of Swan Lake for their upcoming season.
Cutajar will also combine his freelancing world to the Maltese isles. He will be a soloist in the 2025 Valletta International Baroque Festival and aims to feature in more concerts in the 2024/2025 season of concerts, as his home island will always remain the birthplace of his musical journey.
Cutajar also has an expanding class of students in London, teaching across the syllabuses. He is part of a teachers’ association called “Lycaeum Music School” made up of professional graduates of the Royal Academy of Music and the Royal Northern College of Music. All the above represent the diversity of a freelancing career; a constant mobile office!
His favourite musical experiences are very sporadic and random. But his definitive best include tours with the European Union Youth Orchestra, an orchestra he calls a family and one he has been the only Maltese member of for four consecutive years. This includes journeys to Mexico and Finland and all over the best halls in Europe with some of the world’s best conductors such as Ivan Fisher, Giandrea Noseda and Marin Alsop and soloists Renaud Capucon and Nicolas Altstaedt among various others. He formed brothers and sisters through music after weeks of committed preparations of some of the best repertoire the symphonic repertoire has to offer. His life goal is to continue to spread this gorgeous EUYO approach in all his performances, whether they are as soloist, chamber musicians or in an orchestra.
His final message was one of gratitude for his family’s love and support throughout this journey; not only was he introduced to music thanks to them, he embellishes his art because they gave him the freedom to do so.
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