website: www.samdesmet.com
Belgian guitarist Sam Desmet earned a reputation in the late 2000s for performing and recording works by both established and contemporary composers such as Philip Glass, Eduardo Martín, Richard Charlton, and Javier Contreras. He often collaborates across art forms—dance, film, painting, architecture, and poetry—bringing new dimensions to classical performance.
Recently, he premiered the Concerto for Guitar and Small Orchestra by Belgian composer Jean Absil, performing as a soloist with Casco Phil under conductor Benjamin Haemhouts.
He is currently developing Carcassi - Reimagined, a duo project with guitarist/composer Troy Gifford that reimagines Matteo Carcassi's 25 Études Op. 60 as expressive and idiomatic guitar duets.
Sam also leads the award-winning Unity in Diversity - Harmony of Cultures project, featuring global folk songs arranged by composers of matching nationality, with original cover art by visual artists from the same cultures—fusing tradition with creative reinterpretation.
A graduate of the Royal Conservatory of Ghent under Yves Storms, he has worked with Leo Brouwer, Angelo Gilardino, and Simone Iannarelli, recording their music on Study Study. Based in the U.S., he performs internationally and collaborates in chamber settings with artists like Pablo Briceño and Federico Bonacossa.
His scores are published by Productions d’Oz, Edizioni Berben/Curci, and via samdesmet.com.
