Part of the BSO Participate team, the BSO Associate Musicians communicate, inspire, educate and motivate people and communities through music. These professional freelance musicians and music-leaders also collaborate with their fellow BSO Associates across the South West on a variety of projects.

Sam Mason has worked as a freelance musician specialising in creative education workshops for the past 25 years, devising, implementing and delivering projects with orchestras, institutions and innovative music organisations all over the UK and in Europe. She studied performance and composition at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and went on to gain a Masters Degree in Music Composition at City University, London.

Sam has created and delivered numerous education projects for participants of all ages and abilities and works as a mentor, lecturer and teacher delivering and designing training sessions and courses for musicians wishing to gain music workshop skills and experience working with a diverse range of communities. Sam currently leads the Bournemouth Centre of the National Open Youth Orchestra (NOYO).

In all her work, the aim is to inspire and engage, giving people confidence to express themselves through music and the arts. Sam is also mentoring the next generation of community music-leaders from under-represented backgrounds through our BSO Young Associates programme, supported by Allianz Musical Insurance.

Hear more from Sam in the video below! 

“Allianz Musical Insurance have been proud partners of the BSO for many years and continue to be amazed at the varied and unique ways in which the BSO supports musicians and the development of music in the community. The ability to inclusively share musical knowledge, experiences and skills is vital to the future of music in the UK and we understand the important role that freelance musicians and the BSO Associate Musicians programme plays in that.” Brian Hillstead, Partnerships Manager, Allianz Musical Insurance