The Team
Sam Gale
|ORCHESTRA DIRECTOR|
Based in London, Sam is a currently a student at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, studying jazz arranging and composition. Whilst studying jazz and classical trombone for undergraduate, Sam's compositional experimentation lead to scoring films for These People Make Pictures with stars such as Anna Friel and Russell Tovey, and orchestrations for Universal Music Group at Abbey Road Studios. Sam has also arranged for clients such as the Royal Family, the BBC, and the National Youth Orchestra.
Sam made his conducting debut in 2016, collaborating with Mark Anthony-Turnage on a performance of his octet "This Silence". Since then he has gone on to conduct in venues such as Birmingham Symphony Hall, Cadogan Hall, Milton Court, and LSO St Luke's.
Capital Orchestra was founded by Sam in 2018 as a platform for London-based musicians to network with others beyond their own area of training. He has led the orchestra to 3 sell out events, multiple artist collaborations and performances at London's top venues.
Thea Sayer
|HEAD OF ARTIST RELATIONS|
Thea is a 21 year old double bassist from Southampton, currently in her final year at the Royal Academy of Music in London. She studies with Graham Mitchell, Tom Goodman and Dominic Seldis, having previously learnt with David Heyes. Before moving to London, Thea played in many youth music ensembles, as well as two years in the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain where she performed at venues such as the Royal Albert Hall for the BBC Proms, Barbican and Birmingham Symphony Hall. Whilst studying at the Academy, Thea has enjoyed playing with a variety of ensembles like Chineke! Orchestra, Oxford Philharmonia, London Philharmonic Orchestra's Junior Artists and the Royal Academy of Music Symphony Orchestra directed by Jac van Steen and Marin Alsop. In 2018 and 2019, Thea was delighted to go on Chineke! Orchestra's first UK and European tours, visiting concert halls like the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, Kolner Philharmonie in Cologne and Bridgewater Hall in Manchester. Outside of classical music, she has worked for artists like Storzmy, Celeste, Tom Hickcox, Jessi Mac and Carl Craig, as well as recording music for the West End's 2019 production of Captain Corelli's Mandolin and an album for Bob Marley's 75th birthday at Abbey Road Studios.
Millie
Ashton
|ORCHESTRA LEADER|
22 year old Millie Ashton is currently in studying for a Masters in Violin performance at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. In 2016, prior to joining Guildhall, Millie was the Leader of the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain. This culminated at the BBC Proms and a recording of Strauss' "Also Sprach Zarathustra" and Holst's "The Planets" with Chandos Records. Recently, Millie enjoyed Leading the Guildhall Studio Orchestra directed by Dave Arch.
Whilst studying at Guildhall Millie is enjoying a varied freelance career playing with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra, English Session Orchestra, Nigel Kennedy's Orchestra of Life, the West Wycombe Festival with Lawrence Power, depping on West End Musicals the "Book of Mormon" and "Les Miserables", and appearing on popular TV shows "Strictly Come Dancing" as violin soloist, and "The X Factor" with Paloma Faith and Matt Terry.
Raff Mizuta
-Spencer
|FUNDRAISING MANAGER|
Raffaello is currently reading Philosophy, Politics and Economics at UCL whilst also working for Bloomsbury Football Foundation, a charity local to North and North Central London that provides bespoke football pathways for all children, regardless of financial background. The experience he has gained working for a charity that is currently rapidly expanding is what he hopes to bring to Capital Orchestra; an insight into fundraising, outreach programmes and charity growth.
Raffaello’s passion for music derives from a childhood spent playing the viola; he attended the Junior Royal Academy of Music and performed as a part of NYOGB while at school. Although he has recently taken a step away from music, he is very excited to help Capital Orchestra on its path to future success.