LEADERSHIP

Hailed by the Chicago Tribune as a violinist "full of subtlety and poise," Samantha Bennett is an internationally acclaimed violinist and arts leader dedicated to advancing contemporary music and building sustainable, forward-looking performing arts organizations.

Bennett is the founding Co-Artistic Director of ensembleNEWSRQ (enSRQ), the Sarasota-based contemporary music ensemble she co-founded with percussionist George Nickson in 2015. Over the past decade, she has guided the organization's artistic vision, strategic growth, fundraising, operations, and community partnerships, helping transform enSRQ into a thriving regional arts institution. Under her leadership, the ensemble has produced nearly 125 performances and presented more than 300 works by a diverse and expanding community of composers through commissions, world premieres, interdisciplinary collaborations, and innovative programming.

Alongside her leadership work, Bennett maintains an active performing career with many of the country's leading orchestras. She has held an interim position with The Dallas Symphony since 2025 and is a member of The Dallas Opera Orchestra. Bennett previously served as Principal Second Violin of the Sarasota Orchestra from 2016–2022. She has performed extensively with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, The Florida Orchestra, Dallas Symphony Orchestra, and Minnesota Orchestra, and appears regularly with the Santa Fe Opera.

Recognized as a leading interpreter of contemporary music, Bennett has premiered works by composers including Toshio Hosokawa, Sebastian Currier, Andreia Pinto Correia, Oliver Knussen, John Cage, George Benjamin, Augusta Read Thomas, and Philip Glass. As Guest Concertmaster of the New Haven Symphony, she recorded Portrait of Augusta Read Thomas (Nimbus Records), including the world premiere recording of Hemke Concerto: Prisms of Light. As a recitalist, she has performed at Carnegie Hall's Zankel Hall, London's Wigmore Hall, and Boston's Jordan Hall.

Bennett is a frequent participant in internationally renowned festivals including the Lucerne Festival, Spoleto Festival USA, the Britt Festival Orchestra, and the Tanglewood Music Center. At Tanglewood, she premiered Einojuhani Rautavaara's Lost Landscapes for solo violin and orchestra and served as concertmaster for the North American premiere of George Benjamin's acclaimed opera Written on Skin. She performs frequently around the country as a guest artist with various chamber organizations such as Agarita, Rocket City New Music, Opus Nova, and Chatter. 

Born in Ames, Iowa, Bennett studied with Almita and Roland Vamos before earning Bachelor and Master of Music degrees from the New England Conservatory, where she studied with Donald Weilerstein and Malcolm Lowe. She performs on a Tomaso Eberle violin, made in Naples, Italy, in 1769.