Samantha Cohen began playing the lute in 1993, after studying classical guitar at the Victorian College of the Arts.

She has won numerous awards and scholarships, and is active as a performer of renaissance and baroque lutes, baroque guitar and theorbo.

In 1997 Samantha was awarded a Churchill Fellowship, which took her to London to study with Jakob Lindberg.

She has received grants from the Australia Council and the Ian Potter Cultural Trust, and in 2000 she was awarded a scholarship by the Fondazione Marco Fodella, which took her to Milan for a year to study with Paul Beier at the Civica Scuola di Musica.

Samantha has performed with various ensembles, including Ludovico's Band, The Australian Brandenburg Orchestra, Sydney Philharmonia, Ensemble 415 and the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra.

She has appeared in the Melbourne and Adelaide Festivals, Melbourne Autumn Music Festival and has been recorded and broadcast by the ABC.

“Her delicate interpretation of this improvisatory work was marked by masterful facility, reflection and control.”

M. Mumford, The Launceston Examiner
9 December 2002