Victoria Soames Samek è considarata una tra i clarinettisti più interessanti e versatili della Gran Bretagna. Di origini ceca e ungherese, vanta una carriera a livello internazionale come solista, in duo e in numerosi ensemble da camera, in particolare con le formazioni ReedPlay e FourSight che attualmente è gruppo in residenza presso l'Accademia Newham.
Victoria Soames Samek si è formata con Fallows Roger prima di vincere una borsa di studio laureandosi presso il Royal College of Music con Colin Bradbury per il clarinetto e Stephen Trier per il clarinetto basso. Successivamente si è perfezionata con Anthony Pay. Al Royal College of Music ha vinto l'ambito premio "Memorial Federico Thurston" con l'assegnazione del diploma con lode ARCM.
Nella sua lunga carriera concertistica, oltre ad affrontare il repertorio storico, si è distinta per l'impegno nella musica contemporanea contando più di trenta opere a lei dedicate da compositori di rilievo tra i quali Thea Musgrave, il quale concerto per clarinetto basso e orchestra è stato registrato e trasmesso dalla BBC Radio 3 e successivamente inciso con la BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra.
Victoria Soames Samek nel 1992 ha lanciato la celebre etichetta CD Clarinet Classics rapidamente affermatasi come vetrina internazionale per il clarinetto attraverso registrazioni storiche e novità editoriali. Essa stessa ha inciso, tra gli altri, per Clarinet Classics la Sonata di A. Copland in prima assoluta mondiale decretata la "migliore registrazione dell'anno" dal Sunday Times. Ha inoltre inciso per Hyperion e Meridian. Il suo primo CD con The East Winds per la Naxos, con la musica da camera per fiati di Malcolm Arnold, contiene prime incisioni assolute ed è stato pubblicato nel 2007. Affianca all'attivita artistica quella didattica quale docente al Trinity College di Londra e alla Guildhall School of Music & Drama Junior School e Goldsmiths College. Recentemente è stata nominata professore alla Royal Military School of Music.
Regolarmente invitata in numerosi workshop e masterclass è artista ufficiale per la Selmer (Paris) e la Rico.
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Victoria Soames Samek is one of the most exciting and versatile clarinettists playing in the UK today. Born of Czech and Hungarian parents, she performs internationally as a soloist, in duo recitals and in numerous chamber ensembles; notably ReedPlay, and FourSight, which is currently enjoying an Ensemble in Residence position at The Newham Academy in association with Newham.
Victoria Soames Samek studied the clarinet with Roger Fallows before winning a Foundation Scholarship to the Royal College of Music where her professors were Colin Bradbury and bass clarinet with Stephen Trier. She also studied with Anthony Pay. Whilst at The Royal College of Music she won the coveted Frederick Thurston Memorial Prize and gained her ARCM diploma with honours. As well as performing clarinet music from the 18th and 19th centuries, her long-standing commitment to contemporary music has resulted in over thirty commissions and dedications from notable composers including Thea Musgrave, whose bass clarinet concerto she performed, broadcast for BBC radio 3 and subsequently recorded with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra. With her great enthusiasm for the clarinet, in 1992 she launched the celebrated CD label Clarinet Classics, which has quickly established itself as a unique showcase for the clarinet in all its richness and diversity. Her own recordings for Clarinet Classics include the world première recording of Copland’s Clarinet Sonata, voted "most sheerly seductive record of the year" by the Sunday Times. She has also recorded for Hyperion and Meridian. Her first CD with The East Winds for Naxos, of wind chamber music, by Sir Malcolm Arnold including several World Premieres was released in 2007. In addition to her playing commitments Victoria is professor of clarinet at Trinity College, London and The Guildhall School of Music & Drama Junior School and Goldsmiths College, where she also teaches saxophone. Most recently she has been appointed professor of clarinet and saxophone at The Royal Military School of Music, a post she will start in January 2010. Victoria Soames Samek is invited to participate in many workshops, master-classes and special clarinet and saxophone events and is Artistic Director of The Clarinet and Saxophone Performance Course. Victoria Soames Samek is an official endorsee for Selmer (Paris) clarinets and Rico Reeds. | 
